This week in Childcare

Dear Colleagues,

These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week of 7th  to 11th August 2023.

DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:

Friday 11th August 2023

CCSP Saver Programme Preliminary Payment

Monday 14th August 2023

CCSP Saver Programme call will commence

Wednesday 16th August 2023

AIM Level 1 Application Process opens

Friday 18th August 2023

Preliminary payments will be made for ECCE 2023

AIM Level 7 payments for the 2023/2024 programme will commence.

Monday 21st August 2023

Fee Table and Parent Statement to be submitted on Hive

Thursday 31st August 2023

Core Funding application Review & Confirm August deadline.

Friday 15th September 2023

AIM Level 1 payments will be included in the ECCE payment.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Information on CCSP Saver Programme, preliminary payments for the 2023/2024 programme year

Preliminary payments will be made for the CCSP Saver Programme 2023/2024 on Friday 11th August 2023.These payments will be issued to service providers with 6 or more children registered on the programme based on a two-week payment for children registered in your service between Monday 5th June and Friday 16th June 2023. This payment will be deducted from payments based on actual registrations once they begin to issue from Friday 25th August. All subsequent payments will be based on approved registrations.

Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) Saver Programme

Registrations for the 2023/2024 CCSP Saver Programme opened on Monday 7th August 2023. The programme call for CCSP will commence on Monday 14th August 2023. Guidance on completing a CCSP registration will be available shortly.

AIM Level 1 Application Process (AIM Level 1 is an annual application process)

AIM Level 1 applications for existing graduates will open on the Early Years Hive next Wednesday, 16 August 2023. The AIM Level 1 application supports the increased ECCE capitation, funded by DCEDIY in recognition of the leadership and mentoring role which is delivered by the Inclusion Co-ordinator during the 2023/2024 pre-school year. AIM Level 1 application  guidelines can be found here. Prior to submitting the AIM Level 1 application, service providers must ensure that they have completed their ECCE programme readiness steps and activated the ECCE Funding Agreement. New graduates (i.e. graduating in October 2023) can apply when final exam results have been notified by Mary Immaculate College (expected September 2023). If you have any queries in relation to the AIM Level 1 application process please contact the Early Years Provider Centre by raising a Request on HIVE using the following categories: Programme: AIM Level 1,Request type: Application, Request type detail: How To

Preliminary payments for ECCE and Aim level 7 for the programme year 23/24

Preliminary payments will be made for ECCE 2023/20244 on Friday 18th August 2023. All subsequent payments will be based on approved registrations.

AIM Level 7 payments for the 2023/2024 programme will commence on the 18th August 2023. Payments are made one week in advance and weekly thereafter. To ensure the effective processing of AIM Level 7 payments, you must ensure that the child(ren) who have been approved AIM Level 7 support have an active and approved ECCE or CCSP Saver Programme registration on the Early Years Hive for the 2023/2024 programme call.

Fee Table & Parent Statement 2023/2024

The Fee Table and Parent Statement are now available on HIVE to complete. The fee table and parent statement should be submitted on HIVE by August 21st to avoid payments being put on hold.

A Partner Service contracted on or before the 31 July are required to complete their online Fees Table and Parent Statement for Partner Services before completing the August Review and Confirm. 

Partner Services who submit their Core Funding Application Module on and after the 1 August are required to complete their online Fees Table and Parent Statement for Partner Services before activating their Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement.

If you have yet to begin, or not submitted your Core Funding Application Module 2023/2024 follow the below steps in order:

  1. Submit your Core Funding Application Module.
  2. Create and submit your Fees Table.
  3. Create and submit your Parent Statement for Partner Services.
  4. Activate your Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement 2023.

Please see the timeline published by Pobal in relation to Fee tables and Parent Statements;

Summary of steps required by Service Providers in relation to Fee Tables and Parent Statement

Task  Timeline  
Complete and submit Fee Table on Early Years Hive  21 August – if not submitted, payments will be placed on hold  
Update and submit the Parent Statement on Early Years Hive using the link on Fee Table or through My Account menu.  21 August – if not submitted, payments will be placed on hold  
Issue Parent Statement to parent/guardians for signature.  Service provider must also sign.  Within 20 working days of the child beginning in the service.  
Display printed versions of Fee Table and Parent Statement in the facility.    Immediately  
ECCE / CCSP  Applicant Declarations Must be given to parents for signature on submission of registrations, and must be signed by Parent/Guardian and kept on file.  An updated version must be sent to parents when there is a change in the level of service 
Core Funding – August Review and Confirm 1 August – 31 August 

Fee Table 2023/2024- Checks

Westmeath County Childcare Committee have commenced the process of checking Fee Tables 2023/2024. Once you have submitted the Fee Table on HIVE it will become available for us to review. We will liaise with you by email to support and advise if amendments are required. We will do our very best to approve ECCE fee lists briskly, but please ensure your fee list and Parent statement for the 2023/2024 programme year are submitted on the Hive by the 21st August, fee lists can be edited as and when the CCC refer back to you.

Core Funding 1st Review & Confirm for 2023/2024

The first pre-programme Review and Confirm window for the 2023/2024 programme year opened Tuesday 1st August and will remain open until Thursday 31st August 2023. Partner Services are required to complete their online Fees Table and Parent Statement for Partner Services before completing the August Review and Confirm.  Core Funding payments will not commence for the 2023/2024 programme year until the process is completed.  A Partner Service’s base rate will be capped on the date of approval of their August Review and Confirm or the date of approval of their application, whichever is the later, i.e. this will be the maximum funding provided in respect of capacity for the programme year. Please ensure your Core Funding application reflects the maxed staff capacity for the programme year. To complete the Review and Confirm process, your Core Funding Application Module must be at status Approved.If your application is at ‘Referred Back’, you must address the reason it was referred back and then complete the Review and Confirm process.  More details and links to How to Guides are available through the HIVE announcement ‘Core Funding for the 2023/2024 programme year’ published on 31st July 2023

AIM level 1 payments for 2023/2024 programme year

Please note AIM Level 1 payments will be included in the ECCE payment on 15th September 2023.

Guidance for the Early Learning and Care sector on sleep provision for children under 24 months

Tusla has introduced a new guidance document, which sets out the revised position of Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate on sleep provision for children under 24 months in early learning and care services.

There is also a webinar available for your convenience using the following link: https://www.tusla.ie/services/preschool-services/elearning-webinars-and-resources/webinars/

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 0449335454or info@westmeathchildcare.ie

I

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