This Week in childcare

August 2, 2024
1:29 pm

Dear Colleagues,

These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week of 29^th July –2^nd August 2024

DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:

1^st August – 31^st Aug

Core Funding Review & Confirm window

Monday 18^th August 2024

Activate your NCS funding agreement for 2024-25 by this date.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Core Funding Review & Confirm window

The Core Funding August Review & Confirm window is now open (1^st-31^st Aug). All Core Funding Partner Services must complete the Review & Confirm before the 31^st of August. Partner Services must have first completed and submitted their Core Funding Application. You will then have the option to:

Review and Confirm with Changes
Review and Confirm without Changes

Please note your Core Funding base rate will be capped at the approved August Review & Confirm rate therefore it is vitally important to ensure your core funding application, and any application changes, correctly reflect your services capacity. Also please ensure you have activated your Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement within 21 days of submitting your Core Funding Application.

To see the full announcement please refer to the Hive Announcement section.

Core Funding Payments

The first payment for the 2024/2025 programme year is scheduled to be processed on the week commencing 26^th August and should reach Partner Services’ bank accounts on Friday 30^th August.

Future Core Funding payments will be paid in advance and equate to four or five weekly allocations depending on the number of weeks in the month as per the Core Funding Payment Schedule which is available on the Early Years Hive> Resources> Programme Documents> Core Funding Documents> Core Funding Payment Schedule.

Your Core Funding allocations can be viewed on the Early Years Hive> Funding>Programme Funding.

Fee Increase Assessment and Approval Process

The DCEDIY recently announced that fee increases will be available to some Partner Services in Year 3 of Core Funding. All fee increases will be managed through the new Fee Increase Assessment and Approval Process, which commenced on 31^st July 2024 for relevant services. Applications are invited and processed on a phased basis to ensure Partner Services operating for the longest period without a fee increase are served first.

Applicant Guidelines in respect of the Fee Increase Assessment and Approval Process were sent to services by email on 31^st July.

To express interest in a Fee Increase Assessment and Approval Process, Partner Services can email Westmeath County Childcare Committee info@westmeathchildcare.ie once the relevant application window opens.

20240731 CF FIA applicant guidelines Download

Core Funding Reporting Requirement Year 2 (2023/24)

Services in receipt of Core Funding during the 2023/24 Programme Year will be required to complete the Income and Expenditure Template for Year 2 of Core Funding. Services will need to engage an accountant to map the income and expenditure information onto an Income & Expenditure template and submit it on the Core Funding Contractual Reporting Services portal (www.cfcrrs.ie).

The deadline for submitting the completed Income and Expenditure Template will be no later than 6 months after the end of the programme year, which is 28^th February 2025 for year 2. The Core Funding contractual requirements reporting system (www.cfcrrs.ie) will open to providers in mid-January 2025 for Service Providers to register and to link their nominated accountant (if they have not already done so).

Blank Templates and guidance documents are available on the Hive under Resources>Programme Documents> Core Funding Reporting Requirement Year 2 (2023/24).

Submit your NCS 2024 funding agreement

The new NCS programme year opens on 19^th August 2024. You must activate the NCS 2024/2025 funding agreement before the current year’s agreement ends on 18^th August 2024. This is to ensure continued participation in the scheme, as claims on NCS CHICKs will be registered across both programme years. The funding agreement is available on the All Programme Applications page. You can find a guide on activating an NCS funding agreement in the Help & Support section of the Early Years Hive. Please note that failure to submit this funding agreement may result in a loss of funding. As per the NCS Policy Guidelines funding cannot be backdated, so please submit this application as soon as possible.

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/

Are you having difficulty finding suitably qualified staff to fill your vacancies?

Join us on 20^th of Aug 24 at 14.00pm to find out how the FREE EU recruitment service provided by EURES Ireland, which is part of the Department of Social Protection, can help you. Not only can we help you to find well qualified candidates in other EU countries, but EURES also has access to funding to assist them to relocate to take up a job offer in Ireland.

The Department of Social Protection also has a range of services and financial supports available to employers recruiting candidates living in Ireland. Register for this free team’s event to find out more.

Bookings through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/949004055677?aff=oddtdtcreator

Happy Talk

You will find the August edition of Happy Talk attached which will give some fun ideas for interactions with the children to encourage new words, rhyming, and mindful moments.

Happy Talk Aug 24 Download