Dear Colleagues,
These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week 12th -16th September 2022.
DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:
Thursday 15th September
Employment Regulation Orders commenced (see below).
Friday, 23 September 2022
Deadline for submission of applications to take part in Pilot Project ‘Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL)’ (see below)
Friday 30th September
- Learner Fund Bursary 2022 closes for applications. Contact kmurray@westmeathchildcare.ie for application.
- The Finance and Impact returns deadline for August 2022 (Community Services only)
- LINC+ will close for new applications at 4pm
(see below)
Friday 28 October 2022
New LINC graduate applications received by 5pm will be awarded the additional capitation from the Inclusion Co-ordinator’s employment start date relevant to the 2022/23 programme year (see below for more details)
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Together for Better
The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, has launched the new funding model for ELC and SAC ‘Together for Better’.
Together for Better brings together 3 major elements, the Early Childhood Care and Education programme (ECCE), including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and Core Funding, and is launched as Core Funding officially comes into operation, with 90% of eligible services signing up.
To read the full announcement please click Full announcement
Core Funding payments
Core Funding payments have been processed this week for all services that have accepted the funding agreement by close of business on Monday 12th September. This week’s payment covers the period 15th September – 28th September and any unpaid Interim funding allocations covering period 1st September – 14th September. Payments should reach providers’ bank accounts on Friday 16th September. Future Core Funding payments, from 29th September onwards, will be paid in in advance and equate to four- or five- weekly allocations depending on the number of weeks in the month.
The Core Funding Payment Calendar is available HERE
Any service who has not yet completed their Core Funding application can still do so, however all funding agreements activated after 9th September will receive payment from that point onwards and will not be backdated.
Employment Regulation Orders for the Early Years Services Sector.
The Employment Regulation Orders came into effect on 15thSeptember 2022, providing new minimum hourly rates of pay for various roles within the Early Years Services Sector:
• €13.00 for Early Years Educators/ School-Age Childcare practitioners.
• €14.00 for Early Years Lead Educators / School-Age Childcare co-ordinators.
• €15.50 Graduate Early Years Lead Educators / School-Age Childcare co-ordinators
• €15.70 for Deputy Managers.
• €16.50 for Managers;
• €17.25 for Graduate Managers.
FIRS
The Finance and Impact returns (FIRs) for August 2022 are available for completion on Pobal Online.
DCEDIY would like to stress the importance for all community services to continue to complete and submit FIRs to Pobal. They act as an informative tool for services in the effective planning of their financial future. Transition Fund payments should be recorded under ‘Sustainability Funding’ on the Cash Statement and any Interim Funding payments under ‘Core Funding’ on the Cash Statement.
If you require any assistance in completing the return please complete a service request on the HIVE, selecting the FIRs as the category and sub-category of the request.
Applying for the LINC payment for a new LINC graduate
The AIM Level 1 application process for the increased Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) capitation has now opened on Hive for services with new graduates of the Leadership for INClusion (LINC) programme.
A ‘new graduate’ refers to any participant graduating in October 2022. AIM Level 1 is funded by DCEDIY in recognition of the leadership and mentoring role that will be delivered by the LINC Co-ordinator during the 2022/2023 pre-school year. Applications for AIM Level 1 are completed each year on Hive, and applications for existing graduates (those who graduated in previous years) opened on 4th August 2022.
All applicants are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible. Applications received by 5pm on Friday 28 October 2022 will be awarded the additional capitation from the Inclusion Co-ordinator’s employment start date relevant to the 2022/23 programme year. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as any applications received after this date will not be backdated.
Applications must be submitted electronically via the Early Years HIVE. The full announcement and applicant guidelines are available on the Hive.
Building Blocks
The Building Blocks – Improvement Grant is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Childcare under the National Development Plan. Grants will range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit.
As you are aware, Building Blocks – Improvement Grant is due to be released in Q4 of this year. The purpose of this Grant is to improve the energy efficiency standards of facilities and to support the continuous improvement of the physical environment in services. The programme supports the Government’s ambitions as laid out in the National Development Plan.
A recording of the Building Blocks – Improvement Grant webinar and a copy of the presentation can be found here: Building Blocks You tube
Building Blocks – Improvement Grant Overview Power Point Presentation
Hanen Teacher Talk B ‘Let Language Lead the Way to Literacy’ Upcoming Courses! – Better Start
Better Start will be delivering Hanen Teacher Talk B ‘Let Language Lead the Way to Literacy’ from September. Participants must have completed Hanen Teacher Talk A ‘Encouraging Language Development in Early Childhood Settings’ in order to be eligible for the training.
Please register your interest for this training on the Better Start website. You will need the service reference number of the service you are working in.
Hanen Teacher Talk B ‘Let Language Lead the Way to Literacy’ Upcoming Courses! – Better Start
Invitation to take part in Pilot Project Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL):
Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL): A CLIL approach provides for the delivery of aspects of the curriculum through a language that is not the medium of communication or instruction in the setting or school. While CLIL is not the same as immersion, it offers flexibility and opportunities for a more focused approach to target language (Irish in this instance) learning and teaching in English-medium Early Learning and Care settings and schools. The aim of this CLIL project is to improve learner competence, confidence and disposition to Irish in English-medium Early Learning and Care settings
The application form is available at HERE
Please complete by close of business on Friday, 23 September 2022
LINC+ CPD Programme for LINC graduates
LINC+ the CPD Programme for Graduates of the LINC Programme is now accepting new applications for the next release of Package 1 starting in October 2022. The LINC+ CPD Programme is designed to support LINC Graduates in their role within the setting. The course is 100% online and is free to participate in.
There will be two online information sessions for interested LINC graduates, the dates, times and links to registration for these sessions are outlined below:
Thursday September 22nd at 6.30pm – Register here: Eventbrite Link 1
Wednesday September 28th at 7pm – Register here: Eventbrite link 2
Find out more: https://lincprogramme.ie/cpd-for-incos
Brochure: https://lincprogramme.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Updated-LINC-flyer-June-22.pdf
LINC+ will close for new applications on September 30th at 4pm.
You can apply now using this link: Apply Now
Webinars for Early Years Educators and School Age Practitioners
Dr. Mary O’Kane is a Lecturer in Psychology and Early Childhood Education teaching with the Open University. Popular for sharing her expertise in a warm and relatable way, Mary is a regular contributor to Ireland AM on both parenting and early childhood education issues. She gives public talks on a range of topics related to child wellbeing, parenting, and education, and is well known for her humorous down to earth approach
Dr Mary O’Kane will deliver the following two one hour webinars for early years educators and school age practitioners:
Educator/Practitioner Well-being with Dr. Mary O’Kane
Thursday, Sep 15, 2022 6:30 pm | (UTC+01:00) Dublin.
Register link: https://irlgov.webex.com/irlgov/j.php?RGID=r02d7a382c6fb40feedc9150dcd03fcd3
Child Well-being with Dr. Mary O’Kane
Thursday, Sep 22, 2022 6:30 pm | (UTC+01:00) Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London
Register link: https://irlgov.webex.com/irlgov/j.php?RGID=rddf9f8a9d183141ede2e54a35b7d545b
These webinars will be recorded.
Covid case advice
ELC and SAC providers and Childminders that have positive cases and require support can contact the HSE ELC/SAC dedicated helpline on 01 511 9777. For general Covid-19 queries you can contact HSE live on 1800 700 700 or 01 240 8787 or visit the First 5 website (www.first5.gov.ie) for the most up to date information and guidance.
Should you have any queries on any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0449335454
