Roots of Wonder logo — a sage-green seedling with terracotta roots beside the words Roots of Wonder
County Waterford

Workshops for parents & educators in Waterford

Waterford in-person visits are arranged by agreement and are a manageable drive from Gorey; live online sessions are available to Waterford parents and teams at any time.

Waterford's mix of city services, coastal towns and rural settings means the same workshop lands differently depending on where it runs, so sessions here are agreed in conversation first. What comes up again and again, from Waterford city out to Dungarvan and Tramore, is sensory processing — the child who cannot sit at circle time, the one who seeks out crashing and bumping, the one who covers their ears at the hand dryer and is then described as difficult.

Once a team can read those behaviours as a body seeking or avoiding input, the response changes completely. Instead of consequences, you get heavy work before the tricky part of the day, a predictable quiet space that is not a punishment corner, and dough or water available at the moments that reliably fall apart. Parents get the home version of the same thinking, including calm-down boxes that a child helps to build and therefore actually uses.

Waterford Childcare Committee is the county's own source for funding, registration and provider supports, and settings should keep that link handy. What Roots of Wonder adds is one clear hour with a booklet to keep, delivered either in your setting or live online at €20 per person, with in-person public dates at €35. Certificates of attendance are issued afterwards; they record the theme, date and duration, and are not registered CPD points.

For settings

Staff development for crèches, preschools and ECCE rooms across Waterford — setting packages from €399.

For parents

Evening sessions for Waterford parents on big feelings, regulation and play at home.

Private sessions

One-to-one from €25 for 30 minutes, or a private group around your own schedule.

Most requested by Waterford groups

Towns in Waterford we hear from

Parents and educators book from Waterford city, Dungarvan, Tramore, Lismore, Portlaw and right across the county. In-person dates are arranged around your setting; live online sessions are open to everyone, wherever you are.

Local support in Waterford

For funding, registration and local early years supports, Waterford Childcare Committee is the first port of call for settings and childminders in the county. Visit Waterford Childcare Committee

What attendees say

“Amy made supporting children through child-led activities and emergent interests so much easier to understand. She sat in the room with us completely non-judgmental and offered guidance that in turn sparked our own ideas.”
Chloe · Room leader, early years setting
“Planning made simple, broken down and fun to discuss.”
Maria · Workshop attendee
“Amy's love for children shines through and her passion is contagious. If you want your fire reignited, Amy will most definitely help you light the match.”
Margaret · Parent

Waterford questions

Is a sensory session useful if we have no sensory room?
More useful, honestly. The work is about what a child's body is asking for and how to meet it with what you already have — water, dough, heavy work, a quiet corner with a weighted cushion. A dedicated room is a nice extra; understanding regulation is the part that changes the day.
How does a Dungarvan or Tramore setting arrange an in-person date?
Through the contact form or by booking a setting package. Waterford is a manageable run from Gorey, so a full morning or afternoon in the setting is the usual shape rather than a single short slot, which makes the trip worthwhile on both sides.
Can parents and staff attend the same Waterford session?
Yes — the shared workshops are designed for exactly that, and Thursday public sessions are open to both. Parents and educators hearing the same language about regulation is one of the fastest ways to make it stick for a child.
Is there VAT on top of the price?
No. Roots of Wonder is not VAT registered, so the price you see is the price you pay. A public online ticket is €20 per person, in person is €35, and a setting package is €399, €599 or €799 as a flat fee for the whole setting. Nothing is added at checkout.
Are there booking fees?
No booking fees, no card surcharge and no per-person admin charge. You pay the ticket or package price only. An itemised receipt is emailed to you the moment payment goes through, and settings can request a formal invoice before booking so it can go through your own accounts process first.
Do staff get certificates, and do they count towards a Quality Action Plan?
Every participant receives a dated certificate of attendance naming the workshop, the date and the hour completed. Settings routinely file these as evidence of ongoing professional development in a Síolta Quality Action Plan. They are not CPD points, because that requires separate registration with an awarding body.
How long is a workshop and what is included?
One hour, with a take-home booklet for every participant and a dated certificate of attendance for educators. Online sessions are €20 per person and in-person sessions are €35, with €5 off when booked at least two weeks in advance. Private groups and full setting packages are also available.
See dates & book Ask about Waterford

Workshop topics for Waterford

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