These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week of 02nd Oct – 6th Oct 23
Friday 20th October 2023 (5pm)
Deadline for Partner Services to have uploaded their Core Funding Quality Action Plan (PDF document) to the ‘My Service Profile’ on the HIVE system for validation.
Friday 27th October 2023 (5pm)
Deadline to apply for new LINC graduate capitation backdated to the start of the programme year
Wed 1st November 2023
The next Review & Confirm will open on 1st November 2023.
Tuesday 14th November 2023
Updating Aistear Phase 2 Consultation ends
Core Funding Quality Action Plan
Partner Services are required to upload their Core Funding Quality Action Plan (PDF document) to the ‘My Service Profile’ on the HIVE system for validation by the 20th October 2023. Validation will take place in the November Review and Confirm window. Core Funding payments will be placed on hold until such a time as the process is completed. A copy of the completed plan will be automatically shared with the local City/County Childcare Committee. In addition, a copy of the Core Funding Quality Action Plan should be displayed in the service in a location that is accessible to parents.
AIM level 1 for 2023/2024 programme year
The AIM Level 1 application process has now opened on Early Years Hive for services with new graduates i.e those graduating in October 2023 of the Leadership for Inclusion (LINC) programme. Applications received by5pm on Friday 27th October 2023will be awarded the additional capitation from the Inclusion Co-Ordinator’s employment start date relevant to the 2023/24 programme year. Applications received after this date will not be backdated. Applications must be submitted via the Early Years Hive. Please see the link below.
https://earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/how-to-guides/better-start-aim/better-start-aim1/
Review & confirm opens 1st November 2023
It is mandatory to complete the Review & Confirm otherwise payments will be placed on hold. Prior to this it is important that your Service Profile is up to date. You can only complete the Review & Confirm when the previous Core funding Application/ Application change is at Approved status.
If a Core Funding Application/Application Change has been referred back or is underappraisal, you will be unable to complete the Review & Confirm until your application has reached approved status.
Reminder re ECCE registration deadline
We would like to remind providers that the latest an approved provider can register a child on the ECCE programme is 6 weeks after the child’s start date. For example, a child that started on the ECCE programme on 28 August must be registered no later than this Friday 06 October.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth (DECDIY) reserves the right not to backdate funding on any late registrations (i.e., more than 6 weeks after the child’s start date).
In cases of late registrations, proof of the child’s start date and attendance must be submitted to the Scheme Administrator, or the registration will be declined.
Updating Aistear Phase 2 Consultations
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has begun Phase 2 of the consultation process to update Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. You can view the Consultation Report from Phase 1 here, while this video explains the proposed changes to Aistear.
Educators and other stakeholders are invited to share their views on the proposed Framework. This can be done via an online questionnaire, a written submission or by participating in an online focus group in the coming weeks. The consultation will run until Tuesday 14th November 2023.
This is an important opportunity to have your voice heard and to help inform the updating of Aistear,so it continues to have a positive influence on the learning and development of babies, toddlers and young children. To access all consultation materials, please visit: Updating Aistear Consultation
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Training for Early Years and School Age Childcare settings
Are you looking for a course to help you meet the requirements of your Core Funding Quality Action Plan? We provide training on the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion for Early Years and School Age Childcare settings. The training course supports educators to engage with the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Guidelines.
It aims to foster awareness about Diversity, Equality and Inclusion and to encourage and support those working in the sector to actively advocate for inclusion for all children and their families and promote good practice within ELC and SAC settings. It will also support educators in developing an inclusion policy for their setting.
Each course consists of 15 hours of training in total, and you must attend all 15 hours to receive your certificate. There is no cost for the training and lunch will be provided on the first day.
As this very practical course will help support overall quality improvements within your setting it fits into option 5 on the Core Funding Quality Action Plan
To submit an expression of interest for training please email nreid@westmeathchildcare.ie for more information.
Invitation to participate in Children First: Implementation Workshop Pilot
The Tusla Children First Information and Advice Service, in conjunction with the National Child Safeguarding Programme are interested in piloting an Implementation Workshop & Focus Group on the development of a Child Safeguarding Statement and the associated procedures. The Pilot will take place on 16th October 2023 in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone. If you are interested in attending the pilot, please refer to the document attached for further information. Please email kmurray@westmeathchildcare.ie if you are interested in attending.
Happy Talk Calendar Oct 2023
Can you believe it’s October Happy Talkers! Time to get creative, time to have some fun!
This month of Oc-to-ber we are breaking words up into parts. How many October words can you think of to play these games:
Hall-ow-een! Ste-le-ton! Mon-ster! Zom-bi! Pump-kin!
Remember special words have just 1 part: Ghost! Scream! Run!
If you have not yet received your approval email from Westmeath County Childcare Committee, please contact your DW. You will have received an email with any amendments recommended for your services Fee Table to comply with the Childcare Programme rules 2023/2024. 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*
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 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
