About DAC Childcare

DAC Childcare is part of DAC Security Training Ltd, which has been an accredited BTEC centre since 2004. The courses available for study through DAC Childcare have been developed and approved by BTEC as meeting the needs of those who are working, or wish to begin a career in working with children. The Level 2 courses are available only through DAC Childcare.

Margaret Cronin

Margaret has extensive knowledge, experience and qualifications in childcare and education. She started her working life as a police constable and dealt with often difficult situations involving children and families. These children were frequently in need of proper care, to enable them to thrive. Dealing with difficult incidents involving children and families provided Margaret with a wealth of experience, and started her interest in childcare ad education.

Margaret left the police to raise a family and undertook the voluntary role of Area Organiser with the Pre-school Playgroups Association (PPA); following this she studied for a teaching degree and was employed as a primary teacher, in both English and Welsh schools.

Continuing with her studies Margaret gained a Masters degree in Early Years Education; she changed employment and began to teach on a number of child care courses, in a Further Education college. This involved classroom delivery and also supporting students in a variety of childcare settings, ranging from family homes and playgroups to large day nurseries. In addition to assessing the students in the workplace Margaret has also observed good (and not-so-good) practice in different settings.

As a Registered Nursery Inspector Margaret has carried out inspections in the nursery sector on behalf of Estyn, the Office of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales. She is also an External Verifier with Edexcel, and regularly carries out sampling of assessment decisions on courses from Level 1 to Level 3, at schools and colleges across England and Wales.