These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week of 8th -12th April 2024
DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:
Friday 19th April 2024
Parent & Toddler Group Grant Application closing date
Friday 26th June 2024
Deadline for submission of Core Funding Financial reporting
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
Core Funding Reporting Requirement Year 1
The Core Funding Reporting Requirement for year 1 consists of an Income & Expenditure report. The template is available on Hive> Resources> Programme Documents> Core Funding documents> Core Funding financial reporting requirement year 1.
The completed report will be submitted on a new portal, which will open in two stages.
Stage 1 – Providers register to link with their nominated accountant on or before the 29th of April.
Stage 2 – The portal will be open on or before the 31st of May to accept completed Income and Expenditure report templates.
The deadline for submission of the completed Income & Expenditure report template is 26th June.
Pilot Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF)
The new Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) pilot, launched by Minister O Gorman in December last year, will open for Early Years Educators to make application in May 2024, for the academic year 2024/2025.
Those wishing to make an application in May must meet the following eligibility criteria for the NSLF,
- be working with children in a Tusla-registered Early Learning and Care (ELC) or School Age Childcare (SAC) service,
- the service in which the applicant is working in, must have a current signed Core Funding contract with DCEDIY.
- Applicants must have worked within an ELC or SAC service for the six months prior to their application.
Applicants must have a current application/offer for 2024/25 entry to a Level 7/8 Degree course approved by the Qualification Advisory Board (QAB) that is eligible for Nurturing Skills Learner Funding.
Eligible courses for the academic year 2024/2025 can be viewed on the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund website at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a9351-nurturing-skills-learner-fund/
Parent & Toddler Group Grants
DCEDIY has announced the launch of the 2024 Parent and Toddler (P&T) Grant. This year the DCEDIY will continue to support P&T groups with a special focus on increased participation in P&T sessions of recently arrived parents and children from Ukraine and other countries.
The closing date for receipt of complete applications from Parent & Toddler groups is Friday 19th April 2024. For a Grant Application Form please contact us on 0449335454 or kmurray@westmeathchildcare.ie. The Press Release on the 2024 Parent and Toddler Grants can be viewed HERE.
AIM Level 7 Compliance Inspections 2023 2024 Programme Call
Pobal have announced that compliance checks will be commencing on AIM Level 7 payments from the week beginning 22 April 2024. These are standardised checks on AIM Level 7 approved capitations relating to additional assistance in the pre-school room and the maintenance of reduced ratios and confirming adherence with AIM Level 7 rules and contract conditions as set out by the Department of Children Equality Disability Integration & Youth (DCEDIY).
Please ensure that the person in charge on-site has access to the following records to present to the Visit Officer for review at unannounced compliance visits:
- The child attendance records for each of the ECCE sessions attended by child/ren benefitting from AIM Level 7
- The Staff Qualifications for staff working in these ECCE session/s
Pobal have uploaded additional compliance support documents to the Hive to assist services in preparing for a compliance inspection. The documents, listed below, are available under the Resources section and can also be accessed through this link
- AIM Level 7 Approved Provider Compliance Checklist 2023/2024
- AIM Level 7 Compliance Guide for Approved Providers 2023/2024
- AIM Level 7 Rectification Actions Guide 2023/2024
New Applications and CIC Applications – Tusla
Tusla have published a notice on their website for the timeframes for new applications and CIC applications for submission and approval prior to September 2024. This is the link to the notice on the main Early Years Inspectorate webpage or you can access directly here
Upcoming Workshops, Events and Information Session
AIM Information Session: ELC Services – Tue, 16 Apr 2024 19:00 – 20:00
The information session will provide an introduction and an overview of the AIM model.
The session will be hosted online and further information on AIM can be found at https://www.betterstart.ie
Booking through Eventbrite – https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/aim-information-session-elc-services-tickets-858145294677
Access and Inclusion (AIM) Parents & Guardians Information session – Tue, 23 Apr 2024 19:00 – 20:00
AIM Information Session for Parents of ECCE Children
This information session is for parents of children already in ECCE or will be starting ECCE in September 2024.
Booking through Eventbrite –https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/access-and-inclusion-aim-parents-guardians-information-session-tickets-858159376797?aff=oddtdtcreator
(See attached Posters to share with parents who would like more information on the AIM model.)
Training session on the AIM Level 7 Compliance Process 2023/2024
Pobal are delivering training sessions on the AIM Level 7 Compliance Process 2023/2024. The dates are as follows:
- Tuesday 16/04/ 2024 @ 2.30pm
AIM L7 Compliance Process SP1
16/04/2024 from 2.30pm
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2767101769180352343
- Tuesday 16/04/2024 @ 6.30pm
AIM L7 Compliance Process SP2
16/04/2024 from 6.30pm
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2558401268088998231
The PowerPoint Presentation will cover the following AIM Level 7 related topics:
- Resources
- What is involved in the compliance inspection process?
- Rectification actions for AIM Level 7 non-compliant findings
- Key messages to support compliance with AIM Level 7 requirements
The GoTo Webinar Registration links are on hive or we have included here for your convenience to register for the training.
A recording of one of the sessions will be published on the Early Years Hive along with a copy of the presentation once the training sessions are complete.
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 04493353454 or info@westmeathchildcare.ie
