DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:
Friday 7th June 2024
CMDG deadline for completed applications (please see detail below)
Early Years Annual Sector Profile deadline
Friday 26th June 2024:
Deadline for submission of Core Funding Financial Reporting
28th July 2024
Deadline for submission of your Core Funding QAP Report 2023/2024
Monday 2nd September:
NCS subsidy change
For Your Information:
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.
Core Funding Quality Action Plan Report 2023/ 2024
Core Funding requires all early learning and care, school-age childcare and childminding services that benefit from Core Funding to complete a Quality Action Plan and to report on same. The reporting procedure mirrors that of the Quality Action Plan itself, i.e. services are required to complete an online survey that generates a PDF document. Please click on the link below to access the online survey and generate your Core Funding Quality Action Plan Report. The closing date for receipt of submissions is the 28th of July 2024.Having submitted your response please remember to PRINT and SAVE your Quality Action Plan Report as a PDF before closing out of the survey. You then need to upload your Core Funding Quality Action Plan Report (PDF document) to the ‘My Service Profile’ on the HIVE system for validation.
Complete QAP form – https://forms.office.com/r/AiJG5mK1Kr
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.
Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2023/24
The Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2023/24 survey is currently available on the Early Years Hive. Thesurvey will remain open until Friday 7th June 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
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.
AIM Programme Readiness and Review & Confirm
The Pobal Early Years Team recently add the following key points to note in relation to AIM Programme Readiness and Review & Confirm.
AIM sessions:
Please ensure you have created or copied your AIM sessions for the 2024/25 programme call.
When completing this task, if a service provider changes a session name from the previous programme call e.g. “Butterflies 23” changed to “butterflies 24”, you will not be able to submit the R&C with no changes. We would advise that session names are generic and therefore can be copied from one programme call to another.
How do I answer the questions on the information tab of the AIM Review & Confirm?
Additional information on page 4 in the “AIM Level 7 review and confirm – How To” guide linked above explains the changes these questions are referring to.
- “Are there any changes to the child’s circumstances which may impact on the child’s support requirements for AIM supports?”
- “Are there any changes in the setting which may impact on the child’s requirements for AIM supports?”
What should I do if I have a draft Review & Confirm (R&C) with no changes but decide I want to make changes to the support previously awarded for the child?
Where an AIM R&C is in draft and you need to amend from no changes to changes, then you must deactivate the AIM R&C. Once completed, you can create a new AIM R&C, selecting the correct option regarding changes.
What should I do if I have a submitted Review & Confirm with no changes but decide I want to make changes to the support previously awarded for the child?
Where an AIM review and confirm is submitted and you need to amend from no changes to changes, then you must withdraw the R&C. Once completed, you can create a new AIM review and confirm, selecting the correct option regarding changes.
AIM Reviews:
Where a Service Provider has an open AIM Level 7 review you will not be able to complete the AIM R&C for that child until the review has been completed. Where a Service Provider has submitted an AIM review and confirm that has not yet been approved, you will not be able to submit an AIM Level 7 review for that child. If you need to report any changes to Pobal via an AIM Level 7 review, you must wait until the AIM R&C process has been completed.
Further information and links to How To Guides are available in the Announcement section of HIVE.
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.
Childminding Development Grant 2024
The closing date for Childminding Development Grant 2024 applications is 7th June 2024. Completed applications should be either emailed to childminding@childcare.ie
For further information about the Childminding Development Grant contact Michelle – childminding@westmeathchildcare.ie .
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)
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.
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/
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
Westmeath and Longford County Childcare Committees compiled this directory in collaboration with Longford Westmeath Children and Young Peoples Services Committee, to provide information and supports to parents, guardians and services who are caring for or educating a child or young person aged 0-24 years with special needs.
Sourcing information is a difficult task regarding all aspects of disability. The ultimate goal of this Directory of Services is to empower and signpost people to information and supports.
This is the fourth update of this Directory and is a collaboration in the truest of senses. Work has been completed on this project by Angela Locke-Reilly our researcher. Volunteer time has been given by many organisations to include their information, parents, early years’ professionals as well as Special Educational Needs teachers have all be consulted as part of the process to ensure this document is fit for purpose.
This resource is available free of charge by using the QR Code attached, and a number of hard copies will be printed for use by parents and early years’ services professionals.
At the time of going to print every effort was made to ensure that all information within was current and correct. However if you have suggestions for additions, alterations or amendments please do not hesitate to contact us at Westmeath County Childcare Committee by email info@westmeathchildcare.ie
Do you know a young person living with a lifelong health condition who could benefit from making social connections through creativity?
Helium Arts is a children’s charity committed to improving the well-being of children and young people in Ireland, aged 6-16, who are living with lifelong physical health conditions.
We offer free creative workshops, both in communities and online, led by professional artists. These workshops provide safe and accessible spaces where children navigating health conditions can come together.
We use creativity to inspire these children to feel more confident. By empowering them with tools such as friendship, community and new skills, Helium Arts helps these children to become more prepared and capable of overcoming adversity.
Supported conditions include diabetes, epilepsy, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, allergies, heart conditions, asthma, spina bifida, juvenile arthritis, rare or complex conditions and many more.
According to a recent independent evaluation of our community programme,
“100% of parents reported that their child experienced an improved quality of life after participating in Helium Arts workshops.”
This is a testament to the positive impact of our work on the lives of these young individuals and their families.
Registrations are now OPEN for our FREE Summer Camps in Dublin and online.
We would appreciate it if you could help spread the word among your networks.
To sign up, simply click on the links below:
Ages 6-8
1) Online Summer Saturdays
4-Week On & Offline Creative Programme: 6-27 Jul
Ages 8-12
1) Dublin In-Person Summer Camp
16-18 Jul
2) Online Summer Saturdays
4-Week On & Offline Creative Programme: 6-27 Jul
Ages 13-16
16, 18 & 20 Jul
All of our workshops are facilitated by professional artists, with the support of our friendly volunteers and on-site medical support (if needed).
If you’re not sure what to expect at a Helium Arts workshop…
Bring your family and friends and come along to our open studio taster workshop on Cruinniú na nÓg, Saturday, June 15th, from 9 AM to 4 PM.
Everyone is welcome at this free, drop-in event—no booking necessary!
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
