This week in childcare

Dear Colleagues,

These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week 23rd to 27th January 2023.

DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:

Monday 30th January 2023 *Extension*

Irish-medium education Phase 1 consultation – Final date for written submissions 

Friday 10th February 2023 @ 5 pm *Deadline extended*

Deadline for submission of December 2022 (FIR’s) The Finance and Impact returns

Thursday 2nd March 2023

Deadline for all NCS Parental Agreements to be updated.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Ireland’s participation in OECD TALIS survey

The DCECIY issued a press release this week (see attached)in relation to Ireland’s participation in the OECD Starting Strong Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS Starting Strong) in 2024. This is the first international survey of the early learning and care workforce. TALIS Starting Strong provides early years educators and managers with an opportunity to share insights on their professional development; pedagogical beliefs and practices; and working conditions, as well as various other leadership, management, and workplace issues. 

Nurturing Skills, the Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare 2022-2028, published in December 2021, commits to Ireland’s participation in the next round of TALIS Starting Strong.

The Central Statistics Office has been appointed as the National Project Office.

As part of the preparations for Ireland’s participation in this important international survey in early 2024, the Central Statistics Office will oversee a field trial starting in February 2023.

The purpose of the field trial is to test and evaluate the five survey instruments that have been developed by the OECD, with participating countries:

  • A survey for early years educators working with children under three; 
  • A survey for early years educators working with children aged 3 and over;
  • A survey for early years educators who also have managerial responsibilities;
  • A survey for setting managers; and

A survey for those who operate their service single-handed, as early years educator and manager.

A sample of 60 early learning and care settings will be randomly selected from the Tusla register of Early Years Services to participate in the field trial. Settings selected to participate will be asked to complete a form, with details of all early years educators and managers in their setting and return the form to the Central Statistics Office.

The Central Statistics Office will then select a sample of early years educators and managers to participate in the field trial.

Early years educators and managers selected to participate in the field trial will be contacted directly by the Central Statistics Office.

Settings, early years educators and managers selected to participate in this field trial are strongly encouraged to engage in this very important stage of TALIS Starting Strong

Participation in the field trial will involve the completion of an online survey instrument, which is expected to take approximately 60 minutes to complete.

Settings, early years educators and managers selected to participate in this field trial are strongly encouraged to engage in this very important stage of TALIS Starting Strong.

The Finance and Impact returns (FIRs) for December 2022 are available for completion on Pobal Online.

The FIRs are available on Pobal online for Community services only to complete. The DCEDIY encourages services to complete the returns to help identify any problems that Pobal and the DCECIY may help resolve.

The deadline for submission for December 2022 FIRs has been extended to 5pm on Friday 10th February 2023. If you require any assistance in completing the return, please complete a service request on the HIVE, selecting the FIRs as the category and sub-category of the request.

AIM Level 1 2022 – LINC

If you have not already done so, it is still possible to apply for AIM Level 1 to receive capitation for your service if you have a new and existing Graduate of LINC. However, it is important to be aware that any application received after 28th October date will not be backdated to the start date for the programme year.  

Applications must be submitted electronically via the Early Years HIVE portal. Applicant guidelines can be found here. 

Should you have any queries in relation to the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), please contact the Early Years Provider Centre by raising a Request on HIVE as follows: 

Request Programme: AIM Level 1. 
Request Type: Application. 
Request Type Detail: How To. 

Consultation on a new policy for Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht

The Department of Education is carrying out a consultation process to inform the development of a new policy for Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht, including early learning and care settings, primary schools, and post-primary schools. Irish-medium early learning and care settings (e.g., naíonraí) may have a particular interest in this consultation. For more information see:www.gov.ie/POLG

You are invited to have your say on issues such as:

· How opportunities for children and young people to access Irish-medium education can be increased.

· How the supply of staff with a high standard of Irish can be increased.

· What additional supports would be useful for the Irish-medium sector.

Written submissions  can be sent to POLG@education.gov.ie. The closing date for written submissions is Monday 30th January 2023.

Update re Parental Agreement and Co-Payment tool

The deadline for updating parental agreements for NCS is March 2nd, 2023. The Co-Payment tool and/or the semi-automated Parental Agreements are based on the information inputted by Service Providers and does not include NCS closure periods. Therefore, Providers should review the calculations to ensure they are correct for the service’s particular circumstances. If there are additional unfunded days, the calculations will need to be adjusted.

Pobal are currently working to add unfunded NCS closure date functionality and to make the Parental Agreement editable by providers.

Covid case advice

ELC and SAC providers and Childminders that have positive cases and require support can contact the HSE ELC/SAC dedicated helpline on 01 511 9777.

For general Covid-19 queries you can contact HSE live on 1800 700 700 or 01 240 8787 or visit the First 5 website for the most up to date information and guidance. (www.first5.gov.ie)

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