These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week of 13th – 17th May 2024
DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:
*Today* Friday 17th May:
Core Funding May Review and Confirm deadline (please see below).
Friday 31st May:
Early Years Annual Sector Profile closes
Friday 7th June 2024
CMDG deadline for completed applications (please see detail below)
Friday 26th June 2024:
Deadline for submission of Core Funding Financial Reporting
Monday 2nd September:
NCS subsidy change
For Your Information:
Core Funding May Review and Confirm
May Review and Confirm should be complete today Friday 17th May 2024. This involves reviewing your service profile and most recent core funding application to either confirm that no changes have occurred or to submit an application change. Completing the review and confirm today ensures that core funding payments continue to be paid on schedule.
Core Funding Reporting Requirement Year 1
All Partner Services for Core Funding Year 1 should have received an email 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
Some questions have arisen on the pre-populated payments, please see attached FAQ released by the DCEDIY this week.
Temporary arrangements for students to work in settings during the summer period.
In light of the current staffing pressures in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services, as a temporary measure specifically to help services with short-term staffing shortages over the summer period, the DCEDIY has arranged an accelerated process for assessment of equivalence with the level 5 minimum qualification requirement for students currently enrolled on a recognized level 6, 7 or 8 course. For further details on this please see relevant documentation attached.
Ireland’s Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Strategy 2024-2033: Every Learner from Birth to Young Adulthood.
Ireland’s Literacy, Numeracy and Digital LiteracyStrategy 2024-2033: Every Learner from Birth to Young Adulthood and a supporting five-year implementation plan was launched this week. Please see full press release attached.
Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2023/24
The Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2023/24 survey is currently available on the Early Years Hive. The survey will remain open until Friday 31st May 2024 and can be accessed through the Early Years Hive at this link. Guidelines are also available on the Early Years Hive.
All services are encouraged to complete the survey; however, it is mandatory for all existing Core Funding Partner Services. Services are required to update their Service Profile before commencing the 2023/24 Annual Early Years Sector Profile survey. Information and guidance on changes to the Service Profile can be accessed here
AIM Review and Confirm Now Open
The issues identified last week, which affected the new AIM Review and Confirm (former second year extension) process, have been resolved. Service Providers may now complete their AIM Review and Confirm as normal. Services who have a Review & Confirm already submitted will be updated through their application. Please refer to the AIM Hive Guides to support you with the submission of your AIM applications and completion of the new AIM Review & Confirm process.
Help & Support
Should you have any queries in relation to the AIM programme, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC) by raising a Request on Hive using the following categories:
- Programme: (select the AIM level) /Request type: Application /Request type detail: How To
Pilot Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF)
The new Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) pilot is open for Early Years Educators to make applications for the academic year 2024/2025. Those wishing to make an application 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. 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)
Nurturing Skills Learner Fund Training
Pobal are hosting training on the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) Student Applications training. The sessions will be held on Thursday 23 May.
As part of this training, the following will be demonstrated:
- Signing into the NSLF portal
- Checking the status of your Employment Record
- Completing the Student Application
- Various status types of the Student Application
The links to register with GoTo Webinar are as follows:
Nurturing Skills Learner Fund Student Applications SP1
Thursday 23 May 2:30pm – 4:00pm
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5969053353389570394
Nurturing Skills Learner Fund Student Applications SP2
Thursday 23 May 6:30pm – 8:00pm
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/938060879128442208
A recording of one of the webinars will be made available on the Early Years Hive along with the PowerPoint slides once the training has been completed.
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 |
Identifying affected claims
To assist with identifying which NCS claims in your service have been impacted, a new page called ‘Budget 2024 Claims affected’ is available on the Early Years Hive. 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.
New Applications and CIC Applications – Tusla
Tusla has 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 it directly here
Childminding Development Grant 2024
Press Release
Minister Roderic O’Gorman, today announced the opening of the 2024 Childminding Development Grant. The total budget of €500,000 is double the budget announced in 2023. This increase reflects the high demand for the Grant in 2023. It also reflects the Government’s commitment to support childminders to prepare for the planned extension of regulation, subsidies and supports to childminders from this autumn, in line with the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028.
Applications for the Childminding Development Grant opened on 16 May and close on 7 June 2024.
The Childminding Development Grant provides up to €1,000 to assist childminders who are providing a childminding service in their own homes.
The grant aims to support childminders to enhance quality and safety in their service through the purchase of toys, childcare equipment, safety equipment, equipment to support inclusion and STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths), as well as IT equipment to assist childminders to engage with training and registration processes later in the year.
The grants are open to all childminders, including those who are planning to open a childminding business in 2024. 75% of the grant is paid in advance to help childminders with the upfront costs of purchasing equipment.
Childminding Development Grant – Online Session with Westmeath CCC Childminding DO
The Childminding Development Grant is a small grant to assist existing and potential childminders to enhance the safety and quality of their childminding service.
Thursday 23rd May : 7 -8.30pm
Childminding Online Business Information Session – Setting Fees and Developing Contracts
Are you interested in learning more about the business side of childminding?
Come along to our business information sessions. We will look at two key topics to guide you on setting up and operating a small childminding business in your home, and help you provide a professional approach to your service.
We will cover the essential areas of fees, contracts, communication, charging, payments and keeping arrangements.
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/888331452287?aff=oddtdtcreator
For further information about the Childminding Development Grant or the National Action Plan for Childminding, visit www.gov.ie/childminding or contact Westmeath County Childcare Committee at childminding@westmeathchildcare.ie / 0449335454.
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 0449335454 or info@westmeathchildcare.ie
