July 6, 2014: 90 kids from Limerick today celebrated improved literacy skills after completing an intensive early years intervention programme.
The children worked hard since last September completing three hour-and-a-half long after-school sessions each week, as part of the Doodle Den programme which took place in six Primary Schools in Limerick city.
The Senior Infants pupils were five and six years old and from Corpus Christi Primary School, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Presentation Primary, St John’s National School, St. Michaels Infant School and St. Munchin’s Girls National School.
The programme also involved the children’s parents attending sessions to enable them to continue the children’s development in the home.
Doodle Den is a comprehensive one year after-school literacy programme, which was developed and evaluated by the Tallaght based Childhood Development Initiative (CDI), to help improve children’s reading, writing and comprehension.
The launch was attended by the Cathoirleach of Limerick City and County Council Kevin Sheahan who commended the children and their parents. “The Doodle Den programme is a very welcome initiative for Limerick schools and I would like to congratulate all of the children for their achievement and also their parents for their commitment.”
CDI Chief Executive Officer Marian Quinn highlighted the proven effectiveness of Doodle Den and thanked the staff who delivered the programme for their enthusiasm and commitment.
“We carefully measured the effectiveness of Doodle Den in schools in Tallaght from 2007-2012 and found that the programme brought real benefit to the children and their families.
“We are delighted that these six schools in Limerick took an interest in the programme and that it has now been successfully delivered to benefit 90 Limerick children and their parents.”
The programme was delivered in the schools by Doodle Den facilitators in conjunction with the locally based Sstay, Smiles and Steps School Completion Programmes. The facilitators worked with the children through story telling, games and other creative ways to help them enjoy learning.
The children in Doodle Den took part in fun activities to help them learn new sounds and words. Parents attended six sessions across the year which included active learning, discussion and interaction with games and books.
Doodle Den also included one organised family activity per term such as visit a to the local library or story-telling sessions.
More information on Doodle Den at www.twcdi.ie
Further Information
Ronan Cavanagh, Communications Coordinator, CDI: (086) 317 9731.