These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week of 26th February-1st March 2024
DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:
Monday 11th March 2024
National Síolta Aistear Initiative: Aistear and Play 2024 – Better Start course application deadline
Thursday 21st March 2024
Playing Outside Grant Verification Checks
Friday 22nd March 2024
Financial reporting deadline for Core Funding
Wednesday 3rd April 2024
Building Blocks Expansion Grant 2024
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
National Síolta Aistear Initiative: Aistear and Play 2024 – Better Start
The purpose of the NSAI is to support the implementation of the two National Frameworks-Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood and Education and Aistear, The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework.
Aistear and Play is delivered by Better Start Early Years Specialists. This continuous professional development (CPD) can be a part of your Core Funding Quality Action Plan.
The training will take place over five, 2.5 hour in-person sessions. The course includes two on-site mentoring visits by a Better Start Early Years Specialist, one after session three and another after session five.
If your setting is interested in taking part in Aistear and Play, CLICK HERE and complete your expression of interest. For further information you can visit the Better Start website National Síolta Aistear Initiative: Aistear and Play – Better Start
NCS subsidy increase
From 2 September 2024, the minimum rate for the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) subsidies will increase from €1.40 to €2.14. The increase, introduced by Minister Roderic O’Gorman as part of Budget 2024 measures, means that if parents receive a subsidy less than the new maximum (table below), they will receive a higher subsidy towards their childcare fees.
There will be no change to the NCS sponsor referral rate for children aged 0-52 weeks.
The remaining sponsor rates will have the max rate increased to €5.30 as demonstrated below.
| Current Max Rate | New Max Rate | |
| 1 to 2 years | €5.00 | €5.30 |
| 3+ years | €4.54 | €5.30 |
| School Age | €4.31 | €5.30 |
How will this affect awards and claims?
Universal Awards and income assessed as over the 60 000 threshold – these will be updated with the increased universal rate for the remainder of the award.
Income Assessed Awards – where the income was assessed within the income thresholds and an award was generated, these will be recalculated, and an increased rate may be applied for the remainder of the award.
Those at €26,000 and below are already on the highest levels of subsidy and therefore no further increase will apply to their subsidy.
Sponsor Awards – awards for sponsor children aged 1 or over will have their award updated with an increased max rate for the remainder of the award. There is no change to sponsor awards for children under 1 year of age.
Claims will automatically be updated with the new rate for these applicants. There will be no need for parents to confirm these claims again, however if parents have not yet confirmed their claims, they will still be required to do so. Claims must be confirmed by the applicant before payments can flow to the provider.
Important: It should be noted that where rates change, the parents’ co-payment must be updated, and the parent informed.
A tool highlighting the affected claims will be available on the Hive. More information on this tool will be made available closer to the time.
Support
If you need further support, please raise a on the Hive using the following dropdown options:
Request program type: NCS.
Request type: Registrations.
Request type detail: Claim.
Playing Outside Grants 2021
Pobal has been conducting verification checks on all Playing Outside Grants 2021. Please note that the checks will be performed remotely and no visit to your facility will be required.
In advance of uploading any information to the Hive return portal, please consult the relevant documents in the Hive Resources Section.
Core Funding Reporting Requirement Year 1
The Financial reporting requirements in this transitional phase is an Income and Expenditure Report. All relevant documents are available onHive> Resources>Programme Documents>Core Funding documents>Core Funding Reporting Requirement Year 1 (2022/23)
Please contact your Development Worker if you require support.
Building Blocks Expansion Grant
Applications for the Building Blocks Expansion Grant Scheme are now available on the Early Years Hive by navigating to Programmes – Building Blocks Application.
Detailed information regarding Building Blocks – Expansion Grant, is available in the Application Guidelines. Also, two additional support documents have been added, the Technical Guide and Demonstration Video to further assist service providers with their applications.
Draft Childminding Regulations Consultation
Calling all childminders & parents – Don’t miss the opportunity to have your say‼
Join our Focus Groups on the Draft Childminding Regulations. Your opinion matters, your voice, your experiences, and your ideas are valued. Join the Focus Groups and play an integral role in shaping the future of childminding in Ireland.
We Want to Hear from You!
This is your chance to voice your opinion on the proposed regulations that will impact childminding.
Childminder Focus Groups – Wednesday 6th March 2024
Where: Westmeath County Childcare Committee office, (County Buildings, Mullingar, N91 E430)
Time: 7pm – 8.30pm; In-person focus group
Further information please contact: Michelle on 087 433 7700, childminding@westmeathchildcare.ie
Childminding Development Officer will be inviting Moate Library
Are you a childminder or thinking of becoming a childminder in your own home? Come along and meet the childminding development officer Michelle who will offer advice on all things childminding.
Tuesday 26th March in Moate Library from 10am-12pm For more information contact Michelle on 0874337700
Minister O’Gorman’s Press Release can be accessed on the following link: gov.ie/en/press-release/b7c86-minister-ogorman-launches-public-consultation-on-new-childminding-regulations/
Public Consultation Information can be accessed on the following links: gov.ie/en/consultation/2071d-public-consultation-on-the-draft-childminding-regulations/
gov – National Action Plan for Childminding 2021 – 2028 (www.gov.ie)
Seachtain na Gaeilge
Seachtain na Gaeilge 2024 is running from the 1-17 March. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Irish language. The Seachtain na Gaeilge website has resources that may be used to promote and increase the use of Irish https://snag.ie/en/games/
Some useful links are also available on the Aistear/Síolta Practice Guide
- For Irish medium settings in the Interactions/ resources for sharing section you’ll find useful tip-sheets
- For English medium settings Introducing Irish to preschool children in English medium settings
Upcoming Workshops and events
ALWAYS CHILDREN FIRST FOR EARLY YEARS SERVICES – Sheraton Hotel, Athlone
Basic Level – one day training course. (delivered over two dates) BOTH DAYS NEED TO BE ATTENDED TO RECEIVE CERTIFICATE.
This is a new training course designed by the HSE especially for the Early Years Sector in partnership with the Early Years Children First Steering Committee. It will replace the Keeping Safe Training Programme and HSE Children First Foundation Level.
This Child Protection (CP) training programme is for:
- For DLP, DDLP, Team leaders due to renew their CP certificate;
- For new childcare practitioners and practitioners due to renew their face to face CP training please complete the TUSLA Children First E-learning programme.
- This one-day course will provide staff with information on recognising abuse, responding to concerns and safeguarding children. All participants will receive a certificate of attendance.
Date: 12th & 14th March 2024
Time: 1.00pm- 4.00pm
Venue: Sheraton Hotel – Athlone
Cost: €35 (covers cost of both days)
PLEASE ONLY BOOK FIRST DATE OF TRAINING 12th March, this will guarantee place on course, booking only the second date 14th March will not guarantee place on course.
Booking through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/always-children-first-for-early-years-service-tickets-825043516367?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-source=cp&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing
Full details of training can be found here: http://westmeathchildcare.ie/always-children-first-for-early-years-services-sheraton-hotel-athlone/
Measles outbreak
In recent months there has been a rise in cases of measles in parts of the UK and Europe. On 7th February, the HSE reported the death of an adult with confirmed measles. This is the first confirmed measles case notified in Ireland in 2024. The HSE is writing to ask for your support in raising awareness among parents, guardians, and staff about:
- Watching out for the symptoms of measles
- The importance of the MMR vaccine in protecting children
Visit Immunisation – HSE.ie for information about the importance of MMR vaccine.
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 shared this information with parents, guardians, and staff. Preventing the spread of covid 19 in school or childcare – HSE In addition, please find link to the 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 HSE Covid 19
Should you have any queries on any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0449335454 or info@westmeathchildcare.ie
