Dear Colleagues,
These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week of 23rd– 27th October 2023.
DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:
*Today* Friday 27th October 2023 (5pm)
Deadline to apply for new LINC graduate capitation backdated to the start of the programme year.
1st November 2023
The Review & Confirm period opens on 1st November 2023 and will close on 17th November.
Tuesday 14th November 2023
Updating Aistear Phase 2 Consultation ends.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
Mid-term Break Updates: NCS Service Calendar, Returns; ECCE Service Calendar; CCSP Saver Session Amendments
As schools are closed for the mid-term on Monday 30 October, with the option to extend to a five-day break, it may be necessary to make the following changes on your Early Years Hive.
It is advised to make any necessary changes as soon as possible to ensure there are no issues when returns are submitted, and payments processed.
NCS: Service Calendar and Returns
If your service is closed for part or all of the week, you must mark the closures on your NCS service calendar on the Hive accordingly. You must also note whether it is a subsidised (paid) closure or not. To add a closure to your NCS service calendar, log into the Hive and follow the steps:
- Go to My Account
- Service Calendars In the list of service calendars, expand the yellow triangle on NCS 2023 and select Edit Closures
- Click Add Closure
- Individually select the days your service is closed
- Select whether the closure is subsidised (paid) or not
- Enter the reason for the closure and click Submit
For more information, please see ‘How to add a closure’ on the NCS Service Calendar section of Help & Support. Do not submit an NCS Attendance Return if there is a message stating a claim is in Draft. If the claim is in draft, you must go to the NCS Child Registrations page and action any outstanding claim approvals, and then submit the Return.
Important: Changes cannot be made to service calendar opening hours or claim hours once a return for that week has been submitted on the Hive.
For school-aged/ECCE children, if you are increasing their hours during mid-term, please ensure you do not forget to amend the hours for children whose hours reduce after mid-term. As you know NCS subsidy hours cannot be claimed for hours that a child is in school or ECCE, or hours that your service is closed, and any over-claims are liable to be recouped.
If you require further assistance, please raise a Service Request using the following categories: Programme: NCS Request Type: NCS Calendar Request Type Details: General
Please ensure that you include the CHICK number in the Service Requests.
ECCE: Service Calendar
Providers in contract for the ECCE programme are reminded that changes to service calendars must be first approved by County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and parents must be given 20 working days’ notice in writing of any change to the service’s calendar. Copies of such notices must be kept on file for compliance purposes.Approved providers in contract for the ECCE Programme must be open for a minimum of 38 weeks (or 182 days) over the programme year.
For further information on service calendars, please contact your local CCC or refer to the ECCE Service Calendar section of Help & Support. If you require further assistance, please raise a Service Request using the following categories: Programme: ECCE Request Type: ECCE Calendar Request Type Details: General
CCSP Saver Programme: Amending Sessions (e.g. a child is moving from part-time to full-time)
If a registration is changing and needs to be updated from part-time to full-time, please input a CCSP Leaver with the date the child is changing service level. A new registration should then be created with the updated level of service for the appropriate period. Please see ‘How to end/add a CCSP Saver Programme child registration’ on the CCSP child registration section of Help & Support for guidance.
If you require further assistance, please raise a Service Request using the following categories:
Programme: CCSP Request Type: Registrations Request Type Details: Leaver
Core Funding Financial reporting requirements for Partner Services
DCEDIY issued a communication to Partner Services earlier this week about the Core Funding Financial reporting requirements. Westmeath County Childcare Committee are conducting information sessions for Partner Services . These information sessions are designed to provide an understanding of the reporting requirements, and to equip those responsible for your service’s accounts with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage these financial reporting requirements.
Suitable for Managers, Administrators, Bookkeepers, Accountants
Session 1 – November 8th 2pm – Bookings through Eventbrite – https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/core-funding-chart-of-accounts-information-session-tickets-745450010047?aff=oddtdtcreator
Session 2 – November 13th 2pm – Bookings through Eventbrite – https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/core-funding-chart-of-accounts-information-session-tickets-746068610297?aff=oddtdtcreator
If the session you require is fully booked or you encounter any difficulties reserving a place, email kmurray@westmeathchildcare.ie to get access to the online event
TEAMS link will be forwarded to the registered email address prior to the information sessions commencing.
ECCE/CCSP Saver Compliance inspections – 2023/2024 Programme call
Inspections on the ECCE (including AIM) and CCSP Saver programmes will commence shortly. ECCE/CCSP records from the beginning of the programme year i.e., 21 August 2023 for ECCE and 14 August 2023 for CCSP will be reviewed. Compliance updated the relevant ECCE and CCSP support documents which are available on the Hive under the Resources section. These documents can be accessed here.
AIM Level 1
The backdating deadline for AIM Level 1 is today 27th October. Applications received by 5pm today will be awarded the additional capitation from the Inclusion Co-ordinator’s employment start date relevant to the 2023/24 programme year. Any applications after this date will not be backdated and funding will commence from the Monday following approval. The guidance for applying is available here AIM Level 1
If you are having difficulty in relation to the AIM Level 1 application process, please raise a Service Request on your Hive portal using the following categories: Programme: AIM Level 1 Request Type: Application Request Type Detail: How To
Review and Confirm
The November Review and Confirm window for the 2023/2024 programme call will open to all Partner Services on Wednesday, 1 November, until Friday, 17 November, inclusive.
This process enables Core Funding payments to continue by facilitating Partner Services to review their most recent application information and either confirm that no changes have occurred or submit an application change.
Preparing for Review and Confirm
Prior to completing the November Review and Confirm window the below is required:
- Partner Services must upload their completed Quality Action Plan to their Service Profile prior to completing the November Review and Confirm window.
- Partner Services must ensure that all data captured in their Service Profile in relation to their Service Level, Rooms, Sessions, and Staff is up to date prior to completing the Review and Confirm window.
- Your Core Funding Application Module must be at status “Approved”. If your application is at “Referred back”, you must address the reason for refer back and then complete the review and confirm process.
Failure to upload the Quality Action Plan will result in Core Funding payments being placed on hold until such a time as the Quality Action Plan process is completed and the November Review and Confirm is approved.
Additional resources are available on Hive to support you to upload your Quality Action Plan and to complete the Review & Confirm form. Click here Core Funding Documents
Core Funding Payments
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
OMEP Ieland’s Annual Conference
OMEP Ireland is hosting their Annual Conference Play, Grow, Sustain: Integrating the Four Pillars of Sustainability in Early Childhood on November 11th 2023 in Co. Limerick. Please see poster attached.
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 30th 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
