These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week of 15th – 19th May 2023.
DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:
Request to the Sector on updating staff wage information in the service profile. Please see below.
Tuesday 6th June
Annual Early Years Sector Profile deadline
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
New Core Funding allocations and payments how-to videos available on Hive
New Core Funding how-to videos were recently added to the Early Years Hive. The videos answer frequently asked allocations and payments questions for Core Funding and are available in the ‘Core Funding how-to training videos’ dropdown on the Training Videos page.
Help & Support
Should you have any queries in relation to Core Funding – Funding, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC) by raising a Request on Hive using the following categories:
Programme: Core Funding
Request type: Funding
Request type detail: (select relevant request type)
Programme Readiness for ECCE, NCS and the CCSP Saver Programme for the 2023/2024 Programme Year
The first stage of Programme Readiness for the 2023/2024 programme year for ECCE, NCS and the CCSP Saver programme will be available for services on the Early Years Hive at the end of May.
The Primary Authorised User (PAU) for each service must confirm service details and submit a 2023/2024 service calendar, before activating the Funding Agreement for each relevant programme.
Service Fees Lists for the 2023/2024 Programme Year
You will be able to activate a programme’s Funding Agreement without having to first submit a fees list for the 2023/2024 programme year. Fees lists for ECCE, NCS and the CCSP Saver Programme will be available for services to submit at a later stage. It is important to note that it will still be a requirement to upload a Fees List.
Annual Early Years Sector Profile
The 2022/23 Annual Early Years Sector Profile survey is available on the Early Years Hive since Friday 5th May. The survey will remain open until Tuesday 6th June 2023 and can be accessed through the Early Years Hive. A training video and guidelines are also available on the Early Years Hive.
This comprehensive survey of all Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) settings in the country is the primary data source on this sector. Completing this year’s survey within the open window is mandatory for all existing Core Funding Partner Services. Services who wish to become a Core Funding Partner Service in the future must also complete the survey in advance of submitting their Core Funding application.
Request for updating wage information to support the JLC process
Please see the link below to the Minister’s address to the Sector in relation to his recent meeting with the Joint Labour Committee.
To support the work of the Joint Labour Committee, it is in the best interests of both employers and employees that the most up to date data on staff is provided in service profiles for Core Funding Partner Services, especially rates of pay. Your support in updating this data by 28 May will be of great assistance to the members of the Joint Labour Committee. Please note all information provided to the JLC on staff data from service profiles is aggregated and anonymised.
NCCA Transitions Resources
The year is flying by, and we find ourselves in May and thoughts are turning to transitions from preschool to primary school. Please find below the link to the NCCA transitions resources. These include the Mo Scéal templates, links to transition activities and much more.
https://ncca.ie/en/early-childhood/mo-sc%C3%A9al/
https://ncca.ie/ga/an-luath-%C3%B3ige/mo-sc%C3%A9al/
Also attached is the transition postcard that can be used as an activity in connecting with local schools.
The National Centre for Special Education have information on supporting transitions of children with special educational needs that you might find useful to pass on to parents:
The Finance and Impact Returns (FIRs) for April 2023 are available for competition on Pobal Online
The Finance and Impact Returns (FIRs) for April 2023 now need to be completed and should be submitted through Pobal Online. The deadline for submission is Friday 26th May 2023 at 5pm and submissions should include information relating to January- April 2023 inclusive.
The DCEDIY encourages Community services to complete FIR’s as they act as an information tool for services to effectively plan their financial future.
What Works Ireland Evidence Hub
The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, TD., is launching the new What Works Ireland Evidence Hub on 31 May via WebEx.
This is an online tool that is designed to increase access to effective prevention and early intervention programmes. The Evidence Hub will provide policy makers, service commissioners, providers and other audiences with cost and resource requirements for a series of evidence-informed programmes. The Evidence Hub includes programmes for children, young people and their parents in a number of settings and which target areas such as addiction, early years, physical and mental health.
More details can be found on the What Works website: https://whatworks.gov.ie/youre-invited-to-the-what-works-ireland-evidence-hub-launch/
The event is open to all so please feel free to circulate with any organisations or networks that you may work with. Details on how to register can be found here: What Works Ireland Evidence Hub Launch (ti.to)
Covid case advice
For general Covid-19 queries you can contact HSE on 1800 700 700 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am – 5pm Saturday and Sunday or visit the HSE website www.hse/covid19.ie
Should you have any queries on any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0449335454 or info@westmeathchildcare.ie
.
