These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week of 20th Nov – 24th Nov 2023.
DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:
30th November 2023
Building Blocks Improvement Grant Financial Returns
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
CoA Update from Monday Technical Briefing
As you may know there have been some DCEDIY updates to the requirements and materials since those information sessions were delivered. To avoid confusion between what you heard when we delivered the session and what is now available on the Hive, I wish to outline some of those changes:
- The Financial Management Reporting Tool itself was presented as the only method of inputting all financial data and obtaining the Trial Balance. However the DCEDIY have clarified that the use of this tool in obtaining your Trial Balance is an optional method. The Trial Balance is what needs to be verified and submitted by an accountant. That is still the same.
- The various Optional methods of obtaining the Trial Balance are outlined here:
- The Full Version Financial Management Tool (as presented) is still available if you wish to use that.
- New – A streamlined version of the Financial Management Tool is a new resource – this is a version which was developed specifically to capture the retrospective data from Sept 1st 2022- 31st Aug 2023 as it only has one Income and one Expenditure tab. It doesn’t have the breakdown of all the months nor does it have all the reports that can be pulled from the data.
- New – Trial Balance Copy and Paste – a one page document that your accountant can use.
- New – Trial balance Manual Input – a one page document that your accountant can use.
- If you already use an accountant, your accountant may be able to map the codes onto the Trial Balance Manual Input or Copy & Paste Trial Balance documents available on the Hive. This is a discussion you will need to have with your accountant to decide on what method you wish to use.
- Going forward the full financial management tool may be a valuable resource to record all income and expenditure.
- Dates of Submission – The DCEDIY have confirmed the date of submission is 28th Feb 2024.
- Submission – electronic submission by your accountant. Method of submission is yet to be confirmed. At some of the information sessions, you may have been told that it is via email – this is now not the case.
All Chart of Accounts Resources are now available on the Hive. https://earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/downloads/download-corefunding/
If you would like to request one to one supports email info@westmeathchildcare.ie or call the office on 0449335454.
Core Funding Financial Reporting
All Partner Services which had an active Core Funding Contract during the 2022/2023 Programme Year must provide validated Financial Returns (Trial Balance), covering the period from 1st September 2022 to 31st August 2023 by 28th February 2024. The CCC has now completed the delivery of information sessions on the Chart of Accounts however, if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us.
Please refer to the hive for up-to-date resources and how to videos. Click here https://earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/downloads/download-corefunding/
Building Blocks Improvement Grant Financial Returns
Services who received funding through the Building Blocks Improvement Grant are advised to complete the Financial Return by 30th November.
The recorded webinar on how to submit the return can be accessed by clicking the following link:
Building Blocks Pillar 1 – Financial Returns 1 – YouTube
First Aid Responder (FAR) requirement
Due to recent Tusla inspections outcome we would like to remind Providers that:
- At least one person trained in first aid (FAR) is available to the children while the service is in operation.
- At least one person trained in first aid (FAR) is available to the children when on outings.
- A list of people trained in first aid (FAR) is available.
- In-date certification for each trained FAR is available.
The number of people trained in first aid for children (FAR) and available for first aid response is based on the service’s risk assessments, including the size of the service and the hazards identified.
First 5 Implementation Plan
The DCEDIY published the implementation plan for ‘First 5’, the ten-year whole of government strategy for babies, young children and their families which describes the ambitious steps that will be taken over the period 2023 to 2025 to ensure children get the best start in life.
ECCE programme rules and the CCSP saver programme rules
An updated Version 2 of the ECCE Programme Rules and the CCSP Saver Programme Rules for the 2023/2024 programme year are now available. The Irish translation will be available in due course. Please note that Version 2 of the rules covers updates in relation to “Critical Incidents”.
Please ensure to review this updated ruleset for ECCE/CCSP Saver Programme. It is the responsibility of the service provider to ensure they are aware of any new changes or updates to any policies, guidelines and/or programme governance protocols and to comply and implement any new policies, guidelines and or programme governance protocols. This document can be accessed on the hive > programme documents > ECCE documents/CCSP documents > ECCE/CCSP Programme Rules.
Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs
The Minister for Special Education and Inclusion asked researchers from the School of Education at University College Dublin to explore people’s experiences of EPSEN. If you are interested in sharing your experience.
One to One Supports on Developing and Extending your Service.
Covid case advice
Please find below links to information from the HPSC in relation to 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 share this information with parents, guardians, and staff. https://www.hpsc.ie/news/title-23357-en.html (updated 11th August 2023) https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/preventing-the-spread/ https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/preventing-the-spread/child-returning-to-school-or-childcare/
In addition, please find link below to the Management of Infectious Diseases in Childcare Facilities guidance resource. https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/lifestages/childcare/File,13444,en.pdf 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 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am – 5pm Saturday and Sunday or visit the HSE website https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/
Should you have any queries on any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us on 0449335454 or info@westmeathchildcare.ie
