This Week in Childcare

March 7, 2025
2:29 pm

These are the information, deadlines, and announcements for the week of 3^rd – 7^th March 2025.

DEADLINESS / IMPORTANT DATES:

28^th March 2025

Deadline for Parent & Toddler Group Grant application

4^th April 2025

Deadline for Childminding Development Grant 2025

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Updated Aistear for the ELC sector

Attached please see the information released on the updated Aistear Curriculum Framework. There is information on key dates, resources and information sessions for early years educators, Family and Child Guides, ongoing supports, and more.

For more information, please click Aistear 2024

Parent and Toddler Group Grant

Applications are currently being accepted for the Parent & Toddler Group Grant 2025. The grant is available to existing not-for-profit groups who provide informal support to all families and involve the participation of parents/guardians in the community.

The grant is also open to new Parent & Toddler Groups as well at Buggy Walking Groups. For further information or to request an application form, contact grants@westmeathchildcare.ie or 0449335454.

Nurturing Skills Learner Fund 2025 2026

Training will be held on the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) Registrations, Employment Record and Student Applications training on 10 and 11 March 2025. Applications for the NSLF for the academic year 2025/2026 will open shortly. The training will cover the following:

What is the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund
Registering to the NSLF Portal
Completing the Employment Record
Student Applications
Demonstration of the NSLF Portal

Eligibility

Those wishing to make an application must meet the following eligibility criteria for the NSLF:

be working with children in a Tusla-registered Early Learning and Care (ELC) or School Age Childcare (SAC) service,
the service in which the applicant is working in, must have a current signed Core Funding contract with DCEDIY.
Applicants must have worked within an ELC or SAC service for the six months prior to their application.
Applicants must have a current application/offer for 2025/26 entry to a Level 7/8 Degree course approved by the Qualification Advisory Board (QAB) that is eligible for NSLF.
be a new entrant to an Approved Course for the academic year commencing 2025/2026 (Autumn 2025)
not be an ELC educator or SAC practitioner currently undertaking the completion of an Approved Course or an equivalent degree; and
not be an ELC educator or SAC practitioner who has already completed an Approved Course or equivalent degree.
For clarity purposes, at time of application an applicant must not hold (or be undertaking) an Approved Course at level 7 or level 8 in Early Learning and Care

The links to the training webinars are available on hive.

Continuing Students (existing students who successfully received NSLF funding for Academic Year 2024/2025 and wish to continue to receive funding for NSLF for Academic Year 2025/2026)

Pobal will contact continuing students directly in early summer asking individuals to verify their continuing eligibility for NSLF. Once eligibility is confirmed a new letter of Conditional Funding will issue to the student for the academic year 2025/2026.Training for continuing students will happen at a later stage and you will be notified.

Childminding Development Grant 2025

The Childminding Development Grant 2025 is currently open for applications. All current childminders and childminders planning to open in 2025 are eligible to apply.

The grant aims to enhance quality and safety in childminding services and allows for the purchasing of IT equipment to assist with training and registration processes later in the year. For further information or to receive an application form, contact childminding@westmeathchildcare.ie or 0449335454

For further information about the National Action Plan for Childminding, visit www.gov.ie/childminding

New Garda Vetting procedures

Tusla will now provide the Garda Vetting Application Service for Registered Providers of Early Years & School Age Childcare Services, Childminders, and those applying for registration.

Applications must be submitted via the new Tusla Garda Vetting Portal. To support Registered Providers and Childminders Tusla has created a dedicated Garda Vetting section on their website, along with a Guidance Document, FAQ and a pathway infographic. Additional information is available on the DCEDIY website here Garda Vetting for the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Aged Childcare (SAC) sector

Please note Tusla will not provide vetting for employees, volunteers, or cover personnel in childcare services. Vetting for these staff members must be obtained from Early Childhood Ireland. Students on work placement must apply through their educational institution.

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/

Child Safeguarding Roles in ELC & SAC poster attached currently available for all services in hard copy for collection in Westmeath CCC office. Eircode – N91E430

Westmeath County Childcare Committee would like to invite all preschools to enter this year’s Community Awards 2025 by submitting an application in the following category.

Schools Environmental Competition

The aim of the Competition is to showcase environmental projects, undertaken by local Westmeath schools. This competition is open to all schools [pre-school, National and Secondary] within the County. The project can be undertaken by a group within a class, a class, a group of classes or the whole school.

The projects are based on environmental positive actions/message within a school. The 2025 project is for each applicant school to make, plant and grow 4 flowering window boxes. The magnitude of the window boxes is not overly important but rather weighted towards the sustainability of the box and/or if the box can be built upon in future years. However, as an environmental project, upcycling and recycled materials must be used. Above all, it should be educational, artistic, fun and where possible innovative. So, make a statement and go large and be original as often as you can.

For more information, please find attached School environmental competition guidelines and application.

Application:

Online Applications must be completed by 4pm Friday 7th March 2025.

Supporting documentation (including photos etc) and any further queries can be submitted by email to: communitygrants@westmeathcoco.ie or telephone 044 9332051

Closing date has been extended to 21st March 2025.

Communities of Practice Invitation!!!

Westmeath Co Childcare Committee Facilitate Two Communities of Professional Practice.

1.Managers of early years services

2. School age services (stand alone and combined services)

Educators come together to collaborate, reflect and keep abreast of new developments with focus always being on quality. It also supports providers with their QIPP requirements and best-practice in the ELC and SAC sector.

We are a group of educators connected by a shared passion to provide quality experiences for all children. We share ideas and practices to inspire and motivate each other.

We explore everyday challenges and help each other by sharing knowledge and experiences as we develop relationships based on respect, trust and openness.

Benefits of joining our community of professional practice.

.QIPP requirements

· Help with everyday challenges

· Gain confidence

· Fun with colleagues

· Meaningful Participation

· Sense of belonging

· Networking opportunities

· Enhanced communication skills

· Develop personally and professionally.

· Expand skills and expertise.

Please e-mail scleary@westmeathchildcare.ie if you have any further questions.