Welcome

If you have already booked your child into one of our ECCE classes then we would like to extend a very warm welcome to you, your child and your extended family, all of whom we will get to know over the next couple of years. We hope your child loves every moment with us here.
If you are only starting to gather information, I hope the details we have provided in this website help you decide which preschool service offers the best start for your child.
Feel free to make an appointment to bring your child in to experience one of our classes, or come along to one of our Open Days, details of which will be posted on Facebook.

Who are we?

Established in 2007 as Erika's Montessori Playschool, by Erika and Noel Chambers, we have expanded the business over the years, from 1 morning class accommodating 17 children in 2007 to 3 morning classes accommodating 66 children in 2021. We are contracted to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) to provide childcare under the ECCE scheme. Our DCEDIY number is 19WX0247.

Mission Statement and Ethos

At Erika's Fairy Wood, we offer preschool children a safe, caring and friendly environment in which they can take their first steps into the exciting world of learning. Using a structured daily curriculum, and following the themes of Aistear, we combine the Montessori teaching method with informal indoor and outdoor playtime.
We treat each child as an individual, who will bring to our school, a totally unique set of qualities, skills, needs and personality traits. We encourage each child to develop at their own pace, their physical, emotional, cognitive and social skills, along with teaching them the importance of play.
We treat all children equally, no matter what their economic, ethnic, religious, social or family background, and believe each child has the right to access quality preschool facilities to adequately prepare them for the transition into primary school.
We welcome input from parents and guardians, in order to learn how each child can benefit most from the services we provide at Erika's Fairy Wood. We will keep parents and guardians informed on the progress of their child on a regular basis.

Regulation and inspection

We are fully compliant with all preschool regulations and are inspected each year by TUSLA , POBAL and the Department of Education and Skills (DES) Copies of the inspection reports are kept on the premises. We have 3 qualified Montessori teachers in the service and all of our staff are Garda vetted and are qualified from FETAC Level 5 to Level 8 as per ECCE regulations. All of our staff are also trained in First Aid and our service is fully committed to continuous further training of staff, both in-house and through the Wexford County Childcare Committee and also through Early Childhood Ireland. We have full Employers Liability, Public Liability and buildings and contents insurance. All of our classrooms have been purpose built to the highest specifications and have up to date Fire and Disability Access certificates

Our Services

Preschool

Our 3 Preschool classrooms offer a Montessori and Play Based curriculum over 38 weeks, generally in line with the primary school calendar, for children from the age of 2 years 8 months who are toilet trained, to the time they attend primary school. Due to chronic underfunding of Sessional ECCE services by successive governments, with only a 7% capitation rise since 2010, we were forced to change our service type in 2023 from Sessional to Part Time. We now prioritise parents who take a minimum of 4 hours of Part Time care per day, within which we incorporate the 3 hours 'free' ECCE scheme. There is a small charge to parents for this extra 5 hours of care per week, currently working out at a maximum of €20 per week after NCS subsidies. This fee will reduce in September 2024 to a net maximum fee of €16.30 per week. We also offer an optional extra time after each class up to 1:30pm each day. While reluctant to change to a Part Time service, doing so has allowed us remain viable and to offer the same high quality childcare to the children and parents of Gorey, that we have always provided.

Our Team

Erika Chambers

Co-Owner

Early Years Educator

Noel Chambers

Co-Owner

Service Manager

Tracey O' Neill

Early Years Educator

Sheena Byrne

Early Years Educator

Leanne Doran

Early Years Educator

Lita Kinsella

Early Years Educator

Jessi Gregory

Early Years Educator

Lisa Owley

Early Years Educator

Francine Murhill

Early Years Educator

Our ECCE classes

At Erika's Fairy Wood Montessori each of our rooms has been named after a Fairy who lives in Fairy Wood. These are:

Sunflower's Room

  • Purpose built morning preschool class
  • Can accommodate 22 children
  • Built in our new preschool building in 2018
  • Class times 8:45am - 12:45pm
  • Optional extra 45 minutes up to 1:30pm

Buttercup's Room

  • Purpose built morning preschool class
  • Can accommodate 22 children
  • Built in our new Preschool building in 2018
  • Class times 9.00am-1.00pm
  • Optional extra 30 minutes up to 1:30pm

Snowdrop's Room

  • Purpose built morning preschool class
  • Can accommodate 22 children
  • Built in our new preschool building in 2022
  • Class times 8:30am-12.30pm
  • Optional extra 60 minutes up to 1:30pm

Service Calendar 2023/24

Service Fees List 2023/24

Get In Touch