This Week in Childcare

Dear Colleagues,

These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week of 16^th– 20^th October 2023

DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:

*Today* Friday 20^th 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 (see below for guidance).

Friday 27^th October 2023 (5pm)

Deadline to apply for new LINC graduate capitation backdated to the start of the programme year.

1^st November 2023

The next Review & Confirm period will open on 1^st November 2023 and close on 10^th November.

Tuesday 14^th November 2023

Updating Aistear Phase 2 Consultation ends.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

Core Funding Quality Action Plan

Today 20^th October 2023 is the deadline for Partner Services to upload the Core Funding Quality Action Plan (PDF document) to the ‘My Service Profile’ on the HIVE system for validation by Pobal. Partner Services are required to complete their QAP prior to completing the November Review and Confirm window. Failure to upload the QAP will result in Core Funding payments being placed on hold until such a time as the QAP process is completed and the November Review and Confirm is approved. A QAP section can be found in the Applicant Guidelines, as well as Training Videos and a Technical Guide on the Early Years Hive. If you need the link resent, please email kmurray@westmeathchildcare.ie

ECCE/CCSP Saver Compliance inspections – 2023/2024 Programme call

Inspections on the ECCE (including AIM) and CCSP Saver programmes will commence shortly.  Pobal will be delivering a series of webinars for providers on the ECCE & CCSP Compliance processes. Invitations have been issued and we encourage your attendance.

The compliance process will involve a series of standardised checks aimed at confirming adherence with programme rules and contract conditions as set out by the Department of Children Equality Disability Integration & Youth (DCEDIY).

It is advised that providers prepare for an unannounced compliance inspection by collating relevant information for review, preferably in a Compliance Folder which can be made readily available to the Visit Officer on arrival. This will ensure minimum disruption and expedite the compliance inspection. In this regard we request that the person in charge on-site has access to the Compliance Folder / records in the event of an unannounced inspection. Please only maintain compliance related information in the Compliance Folder.

 The Visit Officer will seek to review ECCE/CCSP records from the beginning of the programme year i.e., 21 August 2023 for ECCE and 14 August 2023 for CCSP

With the commencement of the 2023/24 inspection cycle, Compliance updated the relevant ECCE and CCSP support documents which are available on the Hive under the Resources section. These documents are listed below and can also be accessed here.

• ECCE Compliance Checklist 2023/2024 – a checklist to assist providers to identify and collate all relevant documentation for any unannounced compliance inspection. 
• ECCE Compliance Approved Provider Guide 2023/2024 – a guide on the ECCE compliance process
• ECCE Post Inspection Rectification Actions 2023/2024 – a checklist summarising what actions providers must take to rectify matters, if found to be non-compliant
• CCSP Saver Compliance Checklist 2023/2024   – a checklist to assist providers to identify and collate all relevant documentation for any unannounced compliance inspection
• CCSP Saver Compliance Approved Provider Guide 2023/2024  a guide on the CCSP compliance process
• CCSP Saver Post Inspection Rectification Actions 2023/2024  – a checklist summarising what actions providers must take to rectify matters, if found to be non-compliant.

Please note – these documents are only supports, intended to assist you. There is an obligation on each approved provider to familiarise themselves with their responsibilities under the relevant ECCE and CCSP contractual conditions.

AIM level 1 for 2023/2024 programme year

The AIM Level 1 application process is open on the Early Years Hive for services with new LINC graduates i.e. those graduating in October 2023. Applications received by 5pm on Friday 27th October 2023 will 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. For more information, please click here: AIM level 1

November Core Funding Review & Confirm

The November Review & Confirm window opens on 1^st November 2023 and closeson 10^th November 2023. It is mandatory for all services in receipt of Core Funding (Partner Services) to complete the Review & Confirm within the window. Before completing your Review & Confirm your Service Profile must be up to date. You can only complete the Review & Confirm when your Core Funding Application is at Approved status. If your Core Funding Application or Application Change has been referred back or is under appraisal, you will be unable to complete the Review & Confirm until your application has reached approved status. Failure to complete the Review & Confirm may result in payments being placed on hold.

Budget 2024

The DCECIY issued a Press Release regarding Budget 2024, FAQ for Providers, and a letter from Minister O’Gorman during the week. All documents attached.

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: Consultation report  The following video explains the proposed changes to Aistear. Key Messages Phase 2 consultation proposals for updating Aistear

Educators and other stakeholders are invited to share their views on the proposed changes to the 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 NCCA  

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Training for Early Years and School Age Childcare settings

Westmeath CCC provides training on 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. Completing this course will meet the requirements of your Core Funding Quality Action Plan.

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 meets the requirements of option 5 on the Core Funding Quality Action Plan.

For more information on the course please contact the office on 0449335454.

Fee Table 2023/2024- Checks

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*

Little Book at Bedtime:

A free bedtime storybook and library card wallet is available at the library for all children of 4 years and under, to pick up and keep. This exciting initiative aims to engage all parents of young children to read stories with them at bedtime. Parents and their children can pop into their local library to pick up their free bedtime story book and join the library. Bedtime story books are available in English and Irish.

Little Book at Bedtime press release

Hub na nOg: Expression of Interest to participate in an online Focus Group on children and young people’s participation in decision-making

Hub na nÓg is the centre of excellence and co-ordination on children and young people’s participation in decision-making, established and led by the Participation Unit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Hub na nÓg’s role is to support Government Departments, State Agencies and non-government organisations to give children and young people a voice in decision-making with a particular focus on those that are seldom-heard.

Hub na nÓg is currently developing guidance materials for practitioners and other adult decision-makers on methodologies and mechanisms for consulting with children aged 0-5 years, as part of DCEDIY’s commitment in the First 5 Strategy.

Hub na nÓg and the DCEDIY are seeking to establish an online focus group of Early Years Educators. The focus group will seek the opinions of people working directly with children about the development of a resource or toolkit for participation in decision making in an Early Years setting. DCEDIY and Hub na nÓg are inviting you to register your interest in being part of a focus group of Early Years Educators.

 The group will be invited to meet online on two to three occasions to discuss the layout of the toolkit, the approach, language use and case studies and methods proposed from an Early Years Educators perspective. This is to ensure that the Toolkit is developed with the upmost functionality for the intended purpose.

The hope is to run the first of these focus groups the week of the 30^th of October 2023. The aim is to have one to two more focus groups after this. Focus groups will run for 1hr30mins and will be scheduled at times when educators indicate they are most available.

8-12 Early Years Educators will be selected who express their interest in participating through the google form. Unfortunately, not everyone who expresses interest will have the opportunity to participate. Participants will be selected to reflect geographic representation and a range of Early Years Setting types.

Please click on this link to sign up for the online focus group meetings – Online Focus Group  

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