Dear Colleagues,
These are the deadlines, important dates, and announcements for the week 18th -22nd April 2022.
DEADLINES/IMPORTANT DATES:
Friday 22 April 2022
- Transition Fund application. To receive a transition fund payment on 29th April you must complete your application and submit on the Hive no later than this Friday 22nd April.
(See below for details)
Tuesday 26 April 2022
- The Department of Education Inspectorate: Consultation on Guide to Early Years Education Inspection (EYEI) (See below for details)
Tuesday 3rd May 2022
- The application for AIM Level 4 & 7 for 22/23 pre-school year opens.
- Aim level 5 applications open on the Hive.
(See below for details)
Wednesday 4th May 2022
- Closing date for Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2021- 2022 (See below for details)
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
Transition Fund
Transition Fund application. Payments will commence at the end of April for applications received on or before 22nd April paid on 29th April. Payments will be made monthly in advance for weeks open. Services can apply for Transition Fund at any point, but the funding will only be paid from the date of application. Funding will not be backdated, and it will not be possible to apply for weeks prior to application week. If you have not completed your application, it can be accessed on the Early Years Hive under Programmes<Available Programme Applications.
The Department of Education Inspectorate: Consultation on Guide to Early Years Education Inspection (EYEI)
Final call to attend a consultation workshop for all early years’ professionals working in all ELC settings in Westmeath County. The workshop will be live on Friday 29th April 2022 from 1.30-3.30pm.
Have your say by booking here – https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/de-consultation-session-westmeath-tickets-324119519207
National Childcare Scheme
From 2 May 2022, The NCS will no longer deduct hours spent in pre-school or school from NCS awards Please refer to the announcement on Hive for further information.
AIM Level 5 Applications
The application process for Aim level 5 for the 22/23 pre-school year will be open on the Hive from the 3 of May 2022. Under level 5, AIM can provide specialist equipment/appliances or capital grants towards minor building alterations to ensure a child’s meaningful participation in pre-school. Aim level 5 applications must be submitted at least 3 months prior to the child’s start date. As this is a new process on HIVE, training sessions have been organised via Webinar to provide service providers with an overview of the application process. Please refer to the Hive for dates and registration for training.
Annual Early Years Sector Profile
The Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2021/2022 is available on Hive. Completion of the Annual Early Years Sector Profile is a condition if accessing Core Funding in late August 22. The data collected in the survey will not be used in the application form for core funding.
CCSP Saver Programme 2022 on the Early Years Hive
CCSP Saver registrations will be on the Hive for the 2022/23 programme year. For those services with CCSP Saver registrations, you can find a quick how-to guide on both the announcements page and the calendar page of the Hive here.
Better Start – Quality Development Applications
If your service would like to participate in Better Start Quality Development Better Start Quality Development Service is now on Hive Pobal’s Early Years Training Team would like to invite you to a webinar next week. The following topics will be covered in the webinar: How to apply to Quality Development Service (QDS), engaging with Quality Development Service on Hive, how to view appointments, how to view and update goals, how to upload documents and images, review, and conclusion of the QDS process and withdrawing or disengaging from the QDS process. Links and dates for next week are available on the Hive.
Review of the Early Years Services Regulations
Public consultation on the review of the Regulations governing the ELC Sector is open until 6 May 2022. To access the survey and submissions template please click here:https://www.gov.ie/en/consultation/bef61-public-consultation-on-a-review-of-regulations-for-early-learning-and-care/.
Core Funding Information
Please see link to information about Core Funding published by DCEDIY on the First 5 website:
EDI programme (AIM) for educators centres on the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion charter and Guidelines for Early Childhood Care
It explores a wide variety of challenges early childhood services that can inhibit or prevent services operating in a fully inclusive manner. Challenges such as prejudice, real presentation of all children in an early childhood service, strategies to promote inclusive practice and how to draw up an Inclusion Policy for your early year’s childhood service are all explored. The programme uses strength based Anti-Bias approach throughout.
Training is rolled out with a maximum of 16 participants per suite of training and is free of charge to all participants. The programme will be delivered throughout Westmeath face to face in Westmeath training room. All dates must be attended.
Session 1 – To introduce the diversity, equality, and inclusion guidelines and to explore key concepts relating to equality, diversity and inclusion
- Tuesday 17 May Time 2pm -5pm
Session 2- to explore the impact of attitudes and values and to introduce the anti-bias approach
2. Thursday 19 May Time 2pm -5pm
Session 3 – To explore the role of the environment in supporting Diversity, equality and inclusion
3. Tuesday 24 May Time 2pm -5pm
Session 4 -To explore a range of strategies to support Diversity, equality, and Inclusion and inform policy development.
4. Thursday 26 May Time 2pm -5pm
Booking through Eventbrite; https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/aim-equality-diversity-and-inclusion-training-tickets-324793866197
Covid case advice
There are two national helplines for services. The HSE dedicated number for ELC/SAC services who have confirmed Covid-19 cases is 01 511 9777.
The national support helpline operates at weekends and bank holidays only.
