These are the information, deadlines, and announcements for the week of 31st March – 4th April 2025.
DEADLINESS / IMPORTANT DATES:
**** Today 4th April 2025 *****: Deadline for Childminding Development Grant 2025
7th April 2025: EOI to attend Aistear National conference
1st May 2025: Nurturing Skills Learner Fund application process closes
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Childminding Development Grant 2025
The deadline for applications for the Childminding Development Grant 2025 is 5pm today, 4th April. All current childminders and childminders planning to open in 2025 are eligible to apply.
The grant aims to enhance quality and safety in childminding services and allows for the purchasing of IT equipment to assist with training and Tusla registration processes later in the year.
For further information or to receive an application form, contact childminding@westmeathchildcare.ie or 0449335454.
National Aistear Conference
DCEDIY will host a national Aistear Conference on May 24th, 2025, from 10am to 4pm at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre.
This National Early Years Conference will provide a forum for educators, policy makers, academics, students and support organisations to collaboratively explore the updates, new concepts and key messages within the updated Aistear.
In partnership with DCEDIY, Westmeath County Childcare Committee is pleased to offer the following opportunity to Early Years Educators and Childminders in the county.
| 1. Entrance tickets to the event, which will include lunch and a conference bag containing a copy of the updated Aistear and other resources. |
| 2. Transportation to the event. |
| 3. A certificate of attendance, which will support your service’s QIPP 2025. |
Please note, that places are limited to 10, and random selection will apply.
Closing date for receipt of your expression of interest is the close of business on the 7th April.
If you are interested in attending the conference, please email info@westmeathchildcare.ie with subject line : Aistear National Conference EOI including the following information:
| Your name | |
| The name of your service | |
| Your role | |
| Your email address |
Nurturing Skills Learner Fund 2025 2026
The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) is now open to applicants for the academic year 2025/2026. NSLF will cover 90% of the course fees for successful applicants.
Information on the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund can be found here.
Applicants should contact NSLF@pobal.ie to request a link to register on the NSLF Student Portal, upload their employment details and complete the new application process.
The application process closes on 1st May 2025.
Easter closures and compliance
As some services may close for the Easter break, dates during 14-18 and/or 21-25 April, it may be necessary to make the following changes on your Early Years Hive.
Please note Good Friday, 18 April 2025, is not a public holiday.
We advise making any necessary changes as soon as possible to ensure there are no issues when returns are submitted and payments processed.
NCS: Service calendar and returns
If your service is closed, you must mark the closures on your NCS service calendar accordingly. You must also note whether it is a subsidised (paid) closure or not.
For more information, please see ‘How to add a closure’ on the NCS Service Calendar section of Help & Support.
Changes cannot be made to service calendar opening hours or claim hours once a return for that week has been submitted on the Early Years Hive.
If you require further assistance, please raise a Service Request using the following categories ensuring that you include the CHICK number in the request:
- Programme: NCS
- Request Type: NCS Calendar
- Request Type Details: General
NCS: Updated bridging payments
A ‘bridging payment’ is available to service providers during periods of subsidised closure, if they are unavailable to submit their weekly NCS return, for example, mid-term breaks, Easter, Christmas etc.
For guidance on returns, as well as updated guidance on bridging payments, please see the NCS Attendance Returns Guide.
ECCE: Service calendar
Providers in contract for the ECCE programme are reminded that changes to service calendars must be first approved by County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and parents must be given 20 working days’ notice in writing of any change to the service’s calendar.
Copies of such notices must be kept on file for compliance purposes.
For further information on service calendars, please contact your local CCC or refer to the ECCE Service Calendar section of Help & Support.
If you require further assistance, please raise a Service Request
Early Childhood Ireland Childminding Research
Are you a Childminder who would like to collaborate and share your expertise with Early Childhood Ireland on new research that will help shape future childminding practice and policies?
Your collaboration will help us better understand the valuable work of childminders and children’s experiences of home-based care. Your expertise and participation are crucial to help us learn about:
1. Children’s and childminders’ experiences of mixed age groups in a home setting
2. Childminders’ perspectives and application of Aistear and Síolta in practice.
Please see attached for further information.
Events and Information sessions
Communities of Practice Invitation!!!
Westmeath Co Childcare Committee Facilitate Two Communities of Professional Practice.
1.Managers of early years services
2. School age services (stand alone and combined services)
Educators come together to collaborate, reflect and keep abreast of new developments with focus always being on quality.
It also supports providers with their QIPP requirements and best-practice in the ELC and SAC sector.
We are a group of educators connected by a shared passion to provide quality experiences for all children. We share ideas and practices to inspire and motivate each other.
We explore everyday challenges and help each other by sharing knowledge and experiences as we develop relationships based on respect, trust and openness.
Benefits of joining our community of professional practice.
.QIPP requirements
· Help with everyday challenges
· Gain confidence
· Fun with colleagues
· Meaningful Participation
· Sense of belonging
· Networking opportunities
· Enhanced communication skills
· Develop personally and professionally.
· Expand skills and expertise.
Please e-mail scleary@westmeathchildcare.ie if you have any further questions.
AIM – Information session Service Providers
Westmeath & Longford County Childcare Committees together with Better Start will host an on-line information session for service providers interested in finding out about the AIM Programme.
This session will also include changes within AIM – AIM Plus & Non-term time.
This event will take place on Wednesday 30th April 2025.
Bookings through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1272180579359?aff=oddtdtcreator
AIM – Information session for Parents
Westmeath & Longford County Childcare Committees together with Better Start will host an online information session for parents interested in finding out about the AIM programme.
The session will take place on Wednesday 7th May @ 7pm.
Please share the attached poster with parents of children who may be interested in attending.
Booking through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1272192645449?aff=oddtdtcreator
Covid Case Advice
Please see below links to relevant information: Preventing the spread of covid 19 in school or childcare – HSE & Pre_School_ManagementInfectiousDisease.pdf
General Covid-19 queries: Contact HSE on 1800 700 700 between 8 am and 8 pm Monday to Friday and 9 am – 5 pm Saturday and Sunday / HSE Covid-19
