These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week of 14th to 18th August 2023.
DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:
Wednesday 16th August
AIM Level 1 Application Process opened.
Friday 18th August *Today*
Preliminary payments will be made for ECCE 2023
AIM Level 7 payments for the 2023/2024 programme will commence.
Monday 21st August
Fee Table and Parent Statement to be submitted on Hive
Thursday 31st August
Core Funding application ‘Review & Confirm’ August deadline.
Friday 15th September
AIM Level 1 payments will be included in the ECCE payment.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Preliminary payments for ECCE
Preliminary payments will be made for ECCE 2023/2024 on Friday 18th August 2023. All subsequent payments will be based on approved ECCE registrations.
Aim level 7 for the programme year 23/24
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 year.
Fee Table & Parent Statement 2023/2024
The Fee Table and Parent Statement are now available on the HIVE to complete. The Fee Table and Parent Statement should be submitted on HIVE by 21st August to avoid payments being put on hold.
If you have yet to begin your Fee Table, or have not submitted your Core Funding Application Module 2023/2024 follow the below steps in the following order:
1. Update your Service Profile if necessary.
2. Submit your Core Funding Application Module.
3. Create and submit your Fees Table.
4. Create and submit your Parent Statement for Partner Services.
5. Activate your Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement 2023.
6. Core Funding Review & Confirm (details below)
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 the HIVE it will become available for us to review. We will liaise with you by email or phone to support and advise if amendments are required to meet the programme rules and fee management guidelines. We will be approving Fee Tables as quickly as possible, and once approved you will receive an email confirmation of approval to keep on file for Pobal compliance purposes. If changes are required, the Fee Table can be edited as and when the CCC refers back to you.
Please note when changes are submitted to the Fee Table the changes do not carry over to the Parent Statement therefore if changes are requested you will need to redo your Parent Statement and if they have already been sent to parents, they will need to be resent and resigned.
Core Funding – 1st Review & Confirm window 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’ (order of steps outlined above)
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. Therefore, 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 before you can complete the ‘Review and Confirm process.
AIM Level 1 LINC Application Process (AIM Level 1 is an annual application process)
AIM Level 1 applications for existing graduates opened on the Early Years Hive on Wednesday 16th 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. 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
AIM Level 1 application guidelines can be found Here
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.
Irish Recruitment event for Childcare staff from Spain- ‘Bienvenidos a Irlanda’ 2023
EURES Ireland in the Department of Social Protection in cooperation with EURES Spain/ Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal are organising an Irish Recruitment Event in Malaga (online and onsite)aimed at attracting jobseekers and job changers from Spain who are interested in job opportunities in Ireland. The event is funded and supported by the European Labour Authority, EURES Ireland and EURES Spain.
‘Bienvenidos a Irlanda’ 2023 – Career opportunities in Hospitality and Childcare will take place on 10th of October 2023 and will be hosted on the European Job Days platform.
Exhibition space and interview facilities will be provided free of charge for employers who wish to attend onsite.
Employers can now register for the event on the event’s website:Bienvenidos a Irlanda 2023 | EURES – European Job Days and upload vacancies and open them up to direct applications from jobseekers and job changers from Ireland, Spain and Europe.
More information on the event and how to register (for online and/or onsite event) can be found in the attached invitation.
Little Libraries Book Bags initiative- seeking Parental feedback
S3 Solutions have been undertaking an evaluation of the Little Library bag initiative over the last number of months. Now in the final stages of the evaluation, they would love to hear from parents, who have taken part in the Little Library initiative and would like to arrange a direct 5–10-minute call with parents to find out about their experience and the impact of the initiative.
Please, if you can, share this with parents who took part in the Little library initiative.
For parents to arrange a call please see WhatsApp QR code below or send a message to 07840851367 with a date/ time that suits and we will call you back.
Guidance for the Early Learning and Care sector on sleep provision for children under 24 months
Tusla have 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. Please see attached.
There is also a webinar available for your convenience using the following link: Tusla webinars
Covid case advice *new information*
Please find below links to information from the HPSC in relation to Covid-19 and information from the HSE for ELC and SAC providers on preventing the spread of Covid-19 and children returning to ELC and SAC settings.
We would be grateful if you can share this information with parents, guardians, and staff.
https://www.hpsc.ie/news/title-23357-en.html (updated 11th August 2023)
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/preventing-the-spread/
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/preventing-the-spread/child-returning-to-school-or-childcare/
In addition, please find link below to the Management of Infectious Diseases in Childcare Facilities guidance resource.
https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/lifestages/childcare/File,13444,en.pdf Management of Infectious Disease in Childcare Facilities and Other Childcare Settings (2012)
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
