Dear Colleagues,
These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week of 29th April– 3rd May 2024
DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:
Tuesday 7th May 2024
The application process for Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) targeted supports will open.
Tuesday 7th May
Core Funding May Review and Confirm opens
Friday 26th June 2024
Deadline for submission of Core Funding Financial Reporting
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
AIM Targeted Supports Application Process
The application process for AIM Level 5 (equipment, appliances and minor building alterations), AIM Level 4 (expert early years educational advice and support) and AIM Level 7 (additional assistance in the pre-school room) initial applications for the 2024/25 pre-school year will open on the Early Years Hive on Tuesday 7 May at 12 noon.
For a child who is remaining in the same service and requires a second year of AIM Level 7 support, an AIM Review & Confirm form will now be submitted instead of extension application.
Where any of the changes below are expected, a service provider must inform Pobal during the review and confirm the process:
- Changes to a child’s session(s) including moving to a different session and/or a reduction or increase in days.
- Changes to children availing of support in the same session (shared support) or another session within the service i.e. a child leaving the service or session.
- Changes in the adult to child ratio in a session.
- Changes in additional assistance awarded from other sources i.e. Enable Ireland, Home Tuition or attendance at a specialised pre-school.
Where any of the above changes occur throughout the year, after you have reviewed and confirmed, you must inform Pobal by submitting a review within 10 working days advising of the change(s) that have occurred, through the Early Years Hive. Certain changes may affect the child’s AIM Level 7 funding.
Services are reminded to submit AIM Level 4, 5 & 7 applications at least three months prior to a child’s planned start date on the ECCE Programme.
Training sessions for AIM 4 & 7 and the AIM review and confirm process are being held on the following dates. Please see the links n below for these training sessions.
AIM 4 & 7 programme readiness and AIM review and confirm SP2
Tuesday 7 May 2:30pm – 4:00pm
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4490674207474926678
AIM 4 & 7 programme readiness and AIM review and confirm SP3
Tuesday 7 May 6:30pm – 8:00pm
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8211118090659689821
Core Funding May Review and Confirm
The opening date for the May Review and Confirm is Tuesday 7th May and the closing date is Friday 17th May 2024. This process involves services reviewing their service profile and their most recent core funding application to either confirm that no changes have occurred or to submit an application change. This process ensures that core funding payments continue to be paid to partner services.
Core Funding Reporting Requirement Year 1
Partner Services for Core Funding Year 1 received an email earlier this week containing a link to the registration portal to register and link your accountant. This registration is to facilitate the submission of the completed Income and Expenditure Template by your Accountant.
Further information is available on Hive> Resources> Programme Documents> Core Funding documents> Core Funding financial reporting requirement year 1
There are also a number videos that will assist Service Providers in using the portal:
Service Provider – Core Funding Portal System Overview Video
Service Provider – Core Funding Portal System Overview Video
New supporting documents for the Financial Reporting Requirements for Core Funding are available on the Hive under the Resources Tab;
A Core Funding Pre-Populated Income Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) guide
This guide will explain how your pre-populated payments were calculated.
2. DCEDIY Service Provider Guide: Core Funding contractual requirements reporting system (5mins)
3. DCEDIY Accountant Guide: Core Funding contractual requirements reporting system (4mins)
Core Funding Pre-Populated Early Years Programmes Income Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) guide now available
We would like to inform you that a Core Funding Pre-Populated Early Years Programmes Income Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) guide is available under the Resources Tab on the Hive.
This guide will explain how your Early Years Programmes pre-populated payments were calculated. Your local CCC is available to provide Partner Services with support on all queries relating to the Core Funding Reporting requirements and processes.
Increase to NCS subsidy rates
Please see the below important update for ELC/SAC providers on the increase to the minimum subsidy rate & certain sponsor rates for the National Childcare Scheme (NCS). NCS subsidy change As previously communicated, from 2 September 2024, the minimum rate for NCS subsidies will increase from €1.40 to €2.14. There will be no change to sponsor rate for children aged 0-52 weeks however, 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 |
The increase, which was introduced by Minister Roderic O’Gorman as part of Budget 2024 measures, means that if parents are in receipt of a subsidy which is less than the maximum, they will receive a higher subsidy towards their childcare fees. Awards will be recalculated with this new rate and updated accordingly. This will affect existing claims. Service providers do not need to modify the claim if the hours are remaining the same.
Identifying affected claims
To assist with identifying which NCS claims in your service have been impacted, a new page called ‘Budget 2024 Claims affected’ will be available on the Early Years Hive from 3 May 2024. This page will be under the NCS section of the Programmes menu on Hive and will display the claims that will change during the uplift process.
Please note that the uplift process may take up to 8 days from next week and not all of the claims will be available on this page from day one.
Vacancy Survey
A nationwide vacant capacity survey is now taking place through the Childcare Committees. The survey is designed to gain valuable information on where there are vacant places and capacity across the country. The survey (which should take between 5 and 10 minutes of your time) aims to capture two categories of data:
1. Do you currently have any vacant places and in which age categories. (A vacant place means availability five days per week)
2. Are you currently operating at your Tusla registered capacity, and do you expect this to change by September 2024 and if so, why?
We would be grateful if you could take the time to complete the survey, even if you are operating at full capacity and have no vacancies, we would appreciate you making a return as we have been asked to get a response from 100% of our service providers. If you have queries about the survey or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you in advance for your time and cooperation.
Consultation session on Administrative and Regulatory requirements linked to Early Learning and Care, and School Age Childcare
As you may be aware a formal invitation issued to ELCSF members (Stakeholder Forum) on April 23rd to take part in a series of regional consultation sessions on Administrative and Regulatory requirements linked to Early Learning and Care, and School Age Childcare Schemes and Programmes. This is just a reminder that those session will take place in Cork, Mullingar, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny and Cavan on the dates listed below. The sessions will take place from 16:30h to 18:30h at each location. These sessions will be followed by a further online session planned for the 13th June 2024 for those who are unable to attend the in person events.
Cork, Clayton Hotel, Lapps Quay – 20th May
Mullingar, Annebrook House Hotel – 22nd May
Dublin, Morrison Hotel – 23rd May
Galway, Connaught Hotel – 27th May
Kilkenny, Springhill Hotel – 30th May
Cavan, Hotel Kilmore – 5th June
This is an open consultation with Parents, Providers, Parental Representative Bodies, Provider Representative bodies, and other key sectoral stakeholders and will provide a key input to the development of an Action Plan.
If you service wish to attend please complete and return the attached table to EYGov@equality.gov.ie, listing names and contact details by 3rd May 2024.
Please do share this consultation invitation with parents who may be interested in attending these consultation sessions also.
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 applications in May 2024, for the academic year 2024/2025. Those wishing to make an application in May must be working with children in a Tusla registered ELC/SAC service for the last 6 months (before their application). The service must also have a current Core funding contract with the DCEDIY.
From 1st May 2024, applicants with a current application/offer for 2024/25 entry to a Level 7/8 degree course approved by the Qualification Advisory Board (QAB) eligible for NSLF should email Pobal, at NSLF@pobal.ie to request a link to the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund Student Portal. Emails will begin to issue on the 3rd May 2024 containing a link to register on the NSLF Student Portal to those who have expressed an interest. Please see attached document and for further information, including the list of approved courses and the application process are available at gov – Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (www.gov.ie)
Covid case advice
Please find below links to information from the HPSC concerning 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 the 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 8 am and 8 pm Monday to Friday and 9 am – 5 pm 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 0449335454or info@westmeathchildcare.ie
