Dear Colleagues,
These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week of 20th – 24th May 2024
DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:
Friday 31st May 2024:
Deadline for the Early Years Annual Sector Profile
Friday 7th June 2024
CMDG deadline for completed applications (please see detail below)
26th June 2024:
Deadline for submission of Core Funding Financial Report (Income & Expenditure Template)
28th July 2024
Deadline for submission of your Core Funding QAP Report 2023/2024
For Your Information:
Annual Early Years Sector Profile
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 at 11pm and can be accessed through the Early Years Hive. The 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
Available on Early Years Hive under My Account – Surveys
Equal Start
Equal Start is a funding model and a set of associated universal and targeted measures to support access and participation in early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) for children and their families who experience disadvantage.
It is the fourth element of Together for Better, the funding model for ELC and SAC, which currently comprises the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and Core Funding.
Further information on Equal Start can be accessed at gov – Equal Start (www.gov.ie)
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 which will be open from 31st May – 26th June.
Further information is available on Hive> Resources> Programme Documents> Core Funding documents> Core Funding financial reporting requirement year 1
Fraudulent Early Years Training courses
The DCEDIY advise all early year’s services of fraudulent advertising currently circulating on social media using Government of Ireland and Department of Education logos, offering free early learning and childcare training courses and free study aids such as laptops. These advertisements are not from the Department. These adverts should not be confused with the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF).
If you are unsure of the authenticity of any information about childcare training courses claiming to be from the Department of Education or Government of Ireland, please be aware that the most trusted source of information on funding schemes is available on the gov.ie website, all updates and information regarding NSLF and the application process are available, on the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund website at www.gov.ie/NurturingSkillsLearnerFund
Notice for services located in schools re closure day due to Local and European elections on 7th June
Early Learning and Care/School Age Childcare Providers located within a school premises or on the school grounds, and where the school is used as a polling station for elections/referendums on a day which the ELC/SAC service is scheduled to be open are not required:
- to amend their calendars
or
- apply for force majeure.
Affected services providing the ECCE programme are not required to make up that day for the purposes of meeting the 182-day rule in the programme year.
Nurturing Skills Learner Fund – Reminder
The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) is currently open for registrations. All information regarding NSLF and the application process are available, on the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund website at www.gov.ie/NurturingSkillsLearnerFund
Child Safeguarding Training Procedure
Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Services are required to have a procedure in place that outlines how all workers and volunteers can access information and training that is relevant to their role in child safeguarding. The National Child Safeguarding Programme have developed the attached poster to support services to develop a Child Safeguarding Information and Training Procedure. It is recommended that this training cycle is completed over a 5 year cycle.
Further information on developing child safeguarding procedures can be found in the Child Safeguarding Resource Document; Guidance for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Services in Ireland and on the National Child Safeguarding Programme website https://childsafeguardingelc.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 0449335454 or info@westmeathchildcare.ie
