These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week of 4th – 8th September 2023.
DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:
Friday 15th September
AIM Level 1 payments will be included in the ECCE payment.
29th September
Deadline for Learner Fund applications
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
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.
Learner fund
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) have re-opened the Learner Fund Bursary to Early Learning and Care practitioners is currently open until 29th Sept for new graduates of a recognised Early Childhood Education and Care degree programme at level 7/8/9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) which was achieved in the academic years 2015 – 2023. Please email kmurray@westmeathchildcare.ie for the application forms and details on how to apply.
Completed application forms must be completed and returned to kmurray@westmeathchildcare.ie by 5pm on 29th September 23. Please share the details with your staff members who may be eligible
Fee Table 2023/2024- Checks
Westmeath County Childcare Committee are currently checking Fee Tables 2023/2024. We are approving Fee Tables as quickly as possible. Once your Fee Table is 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.
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.
Water Safety Ireland Survey
Water Safety Ireland have asked us to share the below message with you:
In June 2021, Water Safety Ireland launched the Hold Hands water safety programme to over 4,000 Early Learning and Care Centres nationwide.
Hold Hands is aimed at 3-5 years old and highlights the importance of water safety at home, on farms, on the beach, at rivers, lakes and on holidays.
Water Safety Ireland sent resource packs to Early Learning and Care Centres that contains six vibrant storyboards. These aim to grab children’s imagination and highlight potential water safety dangers enforcing the key safety message to always hold an adult’s hand near water. The resource pack also includes a pointer, shaped like a hand, so whenever a child engages with Hold Hands, they are physically holding a hand to reinforce the behavioural change the lessons are trying to instil.
In 2022, Water Safety Ireland redevised the storyboards and are now available digitally so they can be displayed on a white board.
Water Safety Ireland would kindly ask you to take a few minutes to complete the following survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9LF7BHG
Happy September Happy Talkers! Here we go, another year!
The month of September is full of new things, new ideas, new experiences. What new things are you trying this month? Use the rhymes and songs in the Happy Talk Calendar this month to prepare for and get ready for new experiences!
The Department of Social Protection have asked us to share to the following information with you
Automatic enrolment the new savings and investment system
A new retirement savings system for employees is due to be rolled out in late 2024,
Automatic enrolment is a new savings and investment system for employees where financial returns are paid out to participants on retirement.
All your employees meeting the eligibility criteria, who do not already have an active occupational or supplementary pension arrangement, will be automatically enrolled.
The benefit to employers is that you’ll be able to look after your employees’ retirement wellbeing, without the administrative burden and cost of setting up a pension scheme.
The following will be automatically enrolled
- Employees
- Aged between 23-60 years
- Earning €20,000 gross per annum across all employments
- Who are without a current supplementary pension
Excluded are
- Self-employed
- Non-earning
- Those currently paying into an occupational pension scheme or an employer supported PRSA
All information on rates of contribution and information on how the scheme will operate can be found on our hub here and also in the published information leaflets for the Employee and the Employer
All the latest updates on gov.ie/autoenrolment , if you have any questions or would like to speak or meet with us directly you can also contact us at this email address and we will do our best to get back to you shortly to make arrangements.
Covid case advice
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 0443935454 or info@westmeathchildcare.ie
