These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week of 19th August –23rd August 2024
DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:
Now Open
2024/25 – ECCE, NCS & CCSP Saver programmes
1st August – 31st August
Core Funding Review & Confirm window
Friday 27th September 2024 5pm
Deadline for 2024 Learner Fund Graduate and Childminder Bursary Applications
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
ECCE Calendars
ECCE calendars cannot be changed retrospectively during the 2024/25 programme call. ECCE programme rules state, if you want to make a change to the ECCE calendar you must firstly contact your CCC to have it approved; give parents 20 working days written notice and display the revised calendar in your service.
ECCE registration and attendance
Where children are attending ECCE for less than 5 days a week, services are reminded that each child’s registration on the Early Years Hive must reflect the actual attendance pattern of the child.
In addition, where attendance has been less than the registered hours in each of the previous 4 weeks, the approved provider must adjust the registration to reflect this unless they apply to the Scheme Administrator for a special circumstances exemption, where they may be able to retain the registrations beyond 4 weeks.
Amending past dates on 2024/2025 ECCE service calendars
Services are unable to retrospectively change their ECCE service calendars during the 2024/2025 programme call.
As per section 4.4 Changes to Service Calendars of the ECCE 2024/205 programme rules, childcare services that want to change their ECCE calendar should contact their local CCC to have it approved and must give 20 working days’ written notice to parents and display the revised calendar in their service.
You can find the ECCE 2024/2025 programme rules on the Early Years Hive here and guidance on your ECCE service calendar here.
Reminder: Core Funding Review & Confirm window
The August Review & Confirm window is open until August 31st. If a Partner Service does not complete the Review and Confirm process by August 31st, Core Funding payments will be placed on hold. Partner Services should carefully review the grant values displayed on the summary page of the Core Funding Application prior to submission of their Review and Confirm. For further details see the announcement on the Early Years Hive dated 15th August. Core Funding supports and training materials including a Core Funding Review and Confirm 2024/2025 (how-to-video) are available on the Hive.
Prior to completing the August Review and Confirm, Partner Services should:
- Ensure all data captured in the Service Profile is accurate and up to date for the 2024/2025 programme year.
- Complete their fees tables and Parent Statement for Partner Services 2024/2025.
- Upload their Quality Action Plan End-of-Year Report 2023/2024 to their Service Profile.
- Ensure your Core Funding Application is at status ‘Approved’. If your application is at ‘Referred back’, you must address the reason for refer back and then complete the August Review and Confirm process.
If you require one to one support with Core funding applications or Programme Readiness please email nreid@westmeathchildcare.ie
ECCE/AIM Payments
Preliminary payments for ECCE 2024/25 will be made on 16th, 23rd and 30th August and payments based on approved registrations will commence in the week ending 13th September. Further information on the ECCE 2024 Programme can be found here. Payments for AIM Level 7 2024/25 will commence on 16th August 2024.
Fee Increase Assessment and Approval Process
To submit an expression of interest in the Fee Increase Assessment and Approval Process, Partner Services can contact their Development Worker directly or info@westmeathchildcare.ie. Applicant Guidelines can be found on the Hive> Resources> Programme Documents> Guidelines on Fee Management
Equal Start
DCEDIY have now published Equal Start Rules for 2024/2025 which you can find here. If you need any support or have any queries relating to Equal Start, please contact EqualStart@equality.gov.ie
2024 Learner Fund Graduate and Childminder Bursary
Learner Fund Graduate and Childminder Bursary 2024 offers a bursary to early years educators and registered childminders, who are working in the sector, and have obtained a recognised Level 7/8/9 award. There is also a bursary available for registered childminders who have completed a Level 5 or 6 award. Please contact kmurray@westmeathchildcare.ie for application forms and guidance.
Covid case advice
Please see below links to relevant information:
Preventing the spread of covid 19 in school or childcare – HSE
Management of Infectious Disease in Childcare Facilities and Other Childcare Settings (2012)
General Covid-19 queries: Contact HSE on 1800 700 700 between 8 am and 8 pm Monday to Friday and 9 am – 5 pm Saturday and Sunday / HSE Covid 19
