These are the deadlines, information, and announcements for the week of 21st to 25th August 2023.
DEADLINES / IMPORTANT DATES:
Thursday 31st August
Core Funding application ‘Review & Confirm’ August deadline.
Friday 15th September
AIM Level 1 payments will be included in the ECCE payment.
29th September
Deadline for Learner Fund applications
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Review and Confirm
Under the Core Funding Programme, Partner Services are required to Review and Confirm their Core Funding Application information throughout the programme year.
The first pre-programme Review and Confirm window for the 2023/2024 programme year opened Tuesday 1 August until Thursday 31 August 2023 for Partner services who submitted their Core Funding Application Module on or before the 31 July. Partner Services are required to complete their online Fees Table and Parent Statement for Partner Services before completing the August Review and Confirm.
It is important the Review and Confirm process is completed within the required timeframe, as Core Funding payments will not commence for the 2023/2024 programme year until the process is completed and the Review and Confirm is approved. A Partner Service’s base rate will be capped on the date of approval of their August Review and Confirm or the date of approval of their Original Core Funding Application Module, whichever is the later. Partner services who submitted their Core Funding Application Module on or after the 1 August are not required to complete the August Review and Confirm.
To support services in completing a Review & Confirm form, a detailed guidance document and tailored training videos are available in the Resources section of the Early Years Hive.
Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement:
Once a partner service has submitted their application, they have a 14-day window to activate the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement 2023. The funding agreement can be found on the All Programme Applications page of the Early Years Hive.
Once 14 days have passed, the Core Funding Application Module will be cancelled if the funding agreement has not been activated, and this will require a new application submission.
You can view a copy of the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement 2023 in Core Funding Documents. A training video is available here to guide Partner Services on accepting the Funding Agreement. Please note that for any service who does not accept their Core Funding Partner Service Agreement Funding for the 2023/2024 Core Funding programme year, on or before the 1 September, will not receive the full 52 weeks of allocations as payments are from the point of contract.
Support:
If your service requires support completing an application, additional resources are available on the Core Funding Documents page on the Early Years Hive. Your local CCC (County Childcare Committee) can also assist you in completing your Core Funding Application Module.
If you require any further assistance or clarification on any of the above, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre by raising a Request as follows:
- Programme: Core Funding
- Request Type: Application
- Request Type Detail: Application
Fee Table & Parent Statement 2023/2024
The Fee Table and Parent Statement are available on HIVE to complete. If you have yet to begin your Fee Table, or have not submitted your Core Funding Application Module 2023/2024 follow the below steps in the following order:
1. Update your Service Profile if necessary.
2. Submit your Core Funding Application Module.
3. Create and submit your Fees Table.
4. Create and submit your Parent Statement for Partner Services.
5. Activate your Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement 2023.
6. Core Funding Review & Confirm (details below)
A recording of the Fee Table and Parent Statement training is available under ‘Recorded Webinars’ in the Training Videos section of hive. A copy of the PowerPoint slides and FAQ document are available on hive. For your convenience the Fee Table Parent Statement FAQ is attached with this email.
Fee Table 2023/2024 – Checks
Westmeath County Childcare Committee have commenced the process of checking Fee Tables 2023/2024. Once you have submitted the Fee Table on the HIVE it will become available for us to review. We will liaise with you by email or phone to support and advise if amendments are required to meet the programme rules and fee management guidelines. We will be approving Fee Tables as quickly as possible, and once approved you will receive an email confirmation of approval to keep on file for Pobal compliance purposes. If changes are required, the Fee Table can be edited as and when the CCC refers back to you.
Please note when changes are submitted to the Fee Table the changes do not carry over to the Parent Statement therefore if changes are requested you will need to redo your Parent Statement and if they have already been sent to parents, they will need to be resent and resigned.
AIM Level 1 LINC Application Process (AIM Level 1 is an annual application process)
AIM Level 1 applications for existing graduates opened on the Early Years Hive on Wednesday 16th August 2023.
AIM level 1 payments for 2023/2024 programme year
Please note AIM Level 1 payments will be included in the ECCE payment on 15th September 2023.
AIM Level 7 Review Reminder
If your Service is availing of AIM Level 7 funding, any changes to a setting or child circumstances following approval of an AIM Level 7 application, must be notified to Pobal through the submission of the relevant review via the Early Years Hive. Information on the review types below can be found in the Help and Support section here.
- Change of Circumstances
- Prolonged Absence
- Change to Implementation of Support
- Change to Use of Capitation
Should you have any queries in relation to AIM Level 7 reviews, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC) by raising a Request on Hive as follows:
Request Programme: AIM Level 7
Request Type: Application
Request Type Detail: AIM L7 Review
Little Libraries Book Bags initiative- seeking Parental feedback
S3 Solutions have been undertaking an evaluation of the Little Library bag initiative over the last number of months. Now in the final stages of the evaluation, they would love to hear from parents, who have taken part in the Little Library initiative and would like to arrange a direct 5–10-minute call with parents to find out about their experience and the impact of the initiative.
Please share this with parents who took part in the Little library initiative. For parents to arrange a call there is a WhatsApp QR code below or they can send a message to 07840851367 with a date/ time that suits and they will receive a call back.
Guidance for the Early Learning and Care sector on sleep provision for children under 24 months
Tusla have introduced a new guidance document, which sets out the revised position of Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate on sleep provision for children under 24 months in early learning and care services. A webinar available for your convenience using the following link: Tusla webinars
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 can 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
