These are the deadlines, information and announcements for the week of 12th-16th June 2023.
DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:
Friday 16th June
Annual Early Years Sector Profile deadline
Friday 14th July
Childminding Development Grant
Friday 21st July
Core Funding Quality Action Plan Report deadline
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Annual Early Years Sector Profile Deadline Extension
The final deadline for completion of the Annual Early Years Sector Profile is 8pm on Friday 16th June. This survey is mandatory for all services in receipt of Core Funding or services wishing to avail of Core Funding in 2023/2024. Failure to complete it will result in Core Funding payments being placed on hold until the survey has been completed.
Core Funding Quality Action Plan Report
Core Funding supports Partner Services with their financial sustainability while enhancing the quality, affordability, and accessibility of their services. In accordance with Partnership for the Public Good, (DCEDIY 2021) the new Core Funding model commits to drive high-quality service provision. To support this, Core Funding requires all early learning and care (ELC), school-age childcare (SAC) and childminding services that benefit from Core Funding to complete a quality action plan and to report on same. The reporting procedure mirrors that of the quality action plan itself, i.e. services are required to complete an online survey which generates a PDF document. Links to the online survey have been circulated to all relevant services. The deadline for completion is Friday the 21st of July.
ECCE Pre-contracting 2023
As part of the ECCE pre-contracting process, services are required to upload a qualification declaration (Form 1 or Form 2) on HIVE prior to activating the ECCE Grant Agreement. Only services who are entering into an ECCE grant agreement for the first time or services who have received a new DCEDIY reference number are required to complete Form 1 and submit to the CCC for review. All existing services on HIVE are required to complete Form 2 and upload to HIVE as part of the pre-contracting process. Click here to access the forms and How to Guides. Westmeath CCC have developed a programme readiness checklist for tasks services need to complete on the hive also attached.
Childminding Development Grant 2023
The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, on Wednesday announced the opening of the Childminding Development Grant 2023. The press release can be accessed through this link. Completed application forms and supporting documents can be submitted in person, by post or by email to Michelle Grant, Westmeath County Childcare Committee, Old Mullingar Area, Mullingar N91 E430 / childminding@westmeathchildcare.ie
The closing date for submission of applications is 4pm on Friday 14th July 2023.
As there are changes to the Childminding Development Grant this year, we are running on-line CMDG Information Sessions (see flier attached). Book through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/660971653007
Tusla Guide for Outdoors
Tusla recently launched the Guidance for the registration and inspection of early years services
operating outdoors. Click on the link below to read the document.
Little Libraries
Ministers O’Gorman and Humphreys recently announced details of My Little Library 2023.This initiative, funded through Dormant Accounts Funding, offers a free book bag with storybooks for children and supportive information for parents for all children starting school in September 2023. A copy of the full press release can be accessed here.
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 https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/
Should you have any queries on any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0449335454 or info@westmeathchildcare.ie
