Workforce development plan and the new funding model…Have your say…

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If you want to make a submission on the workforce development plan, you can fill in the survey which can be found here:

https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/Workforcedevelopment (English)

https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/bPleanforbartha (Irish)

 

Submissions on the new funding model, through an open-ended survey can be found here:

https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/Fundingmodel (English)

https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/Chistiuamachanseo (Irish)

 

We would encourage you to make submissions. As you know we were going to be hosting these sessions back in March and many of you had registered to attend those face to face sessions.

Don’t miss your opportunity to have your say.

Minister O’Gorman launches National Quality Guidelines for School-Age Childcare Services 24th September 2020

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Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., today launched National Quality Guidelines for School-Age Childcare Services.

The National Quality Guidelines describe the features of good quality practice in childcare services for school-age children, including both after-school and holiday childcare services. The National Quality Guidelines will be an important resource for the diverse range of services that provide school-age childcare in Ireland today.

This publication is the output of a Working Group set up by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in line with the first action identified in the Action Plan for School Age Childcare (2017). The Working Group brought together stakeholders and experts in school-age childcare, who worked intensively over an extended period to develop the Guidelines.

These National Quality Guidelines will assist, guide and inspire school-age childcare services to reach beyond the minimum standards set out in regulations. The Guidelines give central importance to children’s rights, child protection and welfare, equality and diversity, and environmentalism.

Speaking at today’s webinar launch, Minister O’Gorman said:

“I warmly welcome the publication of the National Quality Guidelines. These Guidelines will support school-age childcare providers and practitioners to give the best possible care for children.

“We all want to see childcare places that children will look forward to attending, and the guidelines published today will help achieve that. I would like to thank the Working Group for the effort and care they gave to produce this important resource.”

Consultation played a key part in the development of these guidelines. It included a consultation with children in 2016, a consultation with parents and providers in 2019, and a testing of the final draft Guidelines with a number of providers in 2020.

Minister O’Gorman also today published a report on the public consultation that took place to inform the development of comprehensive regulations and quality standards for school-age childcare. The process included an opportunity for public input into an earlier draft of the quality guidelines.

Minister O’Gorman added:

“The publication of the National Quality Guidelines recognises the importance of school-age childcare in the lives of children and families. The consultation process we carried out is part of our commitment to listen to those involved in school-age childcare and ensure that their voice informs new policy”.

The National Quality Guidelines for School Age Childcare Services are available here.

Plans for the roll-out, and training in the use, of the National Quality Guidelines will be announced over the coming months.

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/d7ddc-minister-ogorman-launches-national-quality-guidelines-for-school-age-childcare-services/

 

Early Years Hive Scheduled maintenance between 5pm and 7pm Today

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Both the Early Years Hive and the National Childcare Scheme website (NCS.gov.ie) will be unavailable on Thursday, 24th September for a maximum of 2 hours between 5pm and 7pm due to scheduled maintenance.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your cooperation.
Thank you,

​DCYA notice on Parental Declarations

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For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs will accept confirmation of the acceptance of the ECCE, NCS, TEC Savers and CCSP Savers ‘Parental Declarations’ by the relevant parent either by email or by hard copy. This is the written agreement between the parent and the Service Provider.
Parents should be given the option of physically signing the agreement or agreeing to it by email. Parents who wish to avail of the email option should:
·        be advised that in regard to data protection, the email is a less secure option as you have to share personal data with them over the internet via the email.
·        be asked to reconfirm the appropriate email address to use,
The Service Provider should ensure that the correct Parental Declaration issues via the appropriate email address to the appropriate family. Providers are reminded that they agree to only process Shared Personal Data for the implementation of the relevant DCYA childcare programme.
Parents opting for the email option should be asked to respond to your Parental Declaration email and it should be clear from the email chain that the parents agree to what is set out in their Parental Declaration document. Please see below for instruction on how to email the Parental Declaration.
ECCE – You will have the option to print a Parental Declaration form for each ECCE registration on the Early Years Hive. At this point, choose to save the file on your desktop. This can then be emailed to the parent.
NCS – there is no automated parental agreement available for NCS. Please see this guide on how to create such an agreement. Once you have your template, you can email it to the parent. Please note that a signed copy of the Parental Agreement is required by legislation for NCS.
TEC Savers and CCSP Saver – You will have the option to print a Parental Declaration form for each TEC Saver and CCSP Saver registration on the PIP Portal. At this point, choose to save the file on your desktop. This can then be emailed to the parent.
Thank you,
Early Years Team

​AIM Level 1 – Inclusion Co-ordinator (LINC) Application Process Open for ‘New Graduates’

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The application process for the increased ECCE capitation, funded by DCYA, in recognition of the leadership and mentoring role that will be delivered by the Inclusion Co-ordinator, during the 2020/2021 pre-school year is now open to new graduates.
To apply, a service provider must be or employ a graduate from the Leadership for Inclusion (LINC) in Early Years Programme who has agreed to take on the role and responsibilities of an Inclusion Co-ordinator in their pre-school setting.  Applicant guidelines can be found here. Please ensure you attach all pages of the signed Inclusion Co-ordinator Declaration with your application.
Applications must be submitted electronically via the Early Years Hive system.  Prior to applying for AIM Level 1, service providers must ensure that they have completed their ECCE programme readiness process.
Any application received by 31st October 2020 will be provided the additional capitation to the beginning of the programme year.  Applicants are encouraged to apply early as any applications received after this date will not be backdated. 
If you require any additional information, please contact eypc@pobal.ie.
Thank you
Early Years Team

The development of a Workforce Development Plan and the development of a new Funding Model for the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare

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The future of the workforce and the future of funding within the early learning and care and school-age childcare sector
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) has issued invites to providers for an information Zoom webinar on Tuesday 22 September from 6-7pm on two significant projects underway – the development of a Workforce Development Plan and the development of a new Funding Model for the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare. Participants will be provided with background information on these projects, an overview of progress made to date and the wide programme of stakeholder engagement and consultation that has been established to inform these projects.
To reserve a place at this webinar, please follow the link to the event page:
This wider programme of stakeholder engagement and consultation includes:
1. Separate call for submissions on the Workforce Development Plan and the new Funding Model open until 2 October 2020.
Workforce Development Plan (English):
https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/ runner/Workforcedevelopment
Workforce Development Plan (Irish): https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/ runner/bPleanforbartha
Funding Model (English): https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/ runner/Fundingmodel
Funding Model (Irish):
2. A series of joint information webinars the Workforce Development Plan and the new Funding Model.
3. An IpsosMRBI survey of households with children under 15.
4. A series of thematic online consultation events with providers, practitioners and other stakeholders due to take place over two weeks, from 12 October, followed by a series of online consultation events with parents.
Details on how participants can engage in this wider programme of stakeholder engagement and consultation will be provided at this webinar. #DCYA #First5 #consultation

Programme of consultation on a Workforce Development Plan and a new Funding Model for early learning and care and school-age childcare

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On 19 August 2020 Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, Roderic O’Gorman TD, announced a new programme of consultation on the future early learning and care and school-age childcare workforce and a future funding model for the sector.

In line with commitments in the First 5 strategy and commitments set out in the Programme for Government, the process to develop a Workforce Development Plan and to develop a new Funding Model commenced in 2019. Both reform initiatives will be informed by this inclusive consultation and engagement process.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, original consultation plans, which included large county level or regional gatherings of providers, practitioners and parents were cancelled. However both the Funding Model Expert Group, and the Workforce Development Plan Steering Group and Stakeholder Group, remain committed to ensuring that their work is informed by the views of parents, providers, staff and other stakeholders within the sector. To this end, a new programme of consultation has been scheduled for the coming months.

Separate calls for submissions on the Workforce Development Plan and the new Funding Model are now open. All interested parties are invited to submit to each call using the links provided below. The closing date for submissions is 2 October 2020.

For more information: https://www.gov.ie/en/consultation/45130-programme-of-consultation-on-a-workforce-development-plan-and-a-new-funding-model-for-early-learning-and-care-and-school-age-childcare/

 

First Aid Responder FAR Reimbursement Fund

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First Aid Responder (FAR) Reimbursement Fund Application Form 2020

 

To support services to meet their regulatory requirement of having one staff member trained in First Aid Response (FAR) by February 2021; the Department of Children & Youth Affairs (DCYA) has extended and altered the FAR Reimbursement Fund which will fund one FAR first aid training place per registered early learning and care services / registered childminders to a maximum of €225 per full course or €175 per refresher course.

 

The local City/County Childcare Committees (CCC) will continue to process the FAR applications.

 

To apply for the FULL FAR Reimbursement Fund, a registered service or registered childminder must:

  • Have an employee who has completed or have themselves completed either the full 18 hours FAR course or the 12 hours Refresher FAR course since January 1st, 2019.
  • Have paid for the employee / registered childminder to participate in the training.
  • Submit a copy of the receipt for training and a copy of the PHECC accredited FAR certificate.

 

To apply for the PARTIAL FAR Reimbursement Fund, a registered service or registered childminder must:

  • Have an employee who has completed or have themselves completed either the two day online theory element of the full FAR course or the one day online theory element of the refresher FAR course since the Public Health restrictions have been put in place
  • Have paid for the employee / registered childminder to participate in the training.
  • Submit a copy of the receipt for training and a copy of the letter from the PHECC accredited trainer guaranteeing that the employee has secured a place for the practical element of the FAR course. In this instance a maximum of 2/3 of the Bursary will be paid with the remaining paid on receipt of a copy of the PHECC accredited FAR certificate

 

Timeframe for applications:

 

Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4
Application closing date (for payment in that quarter) 17th June 2020 18th September 2020 11th December 2020
Payment dates

 

 24th June 2020 25th September 2020 18th December 2020

 

PLEASE NOTE:

  • All forms must be fully completed and returned to your local CCC
  • Incomplete application forms will not be accepted.
  • All required documents must be attached to the application form.
  • Information provided by the applicant will only be used for the purpose it was intended and will be retained by the CCC for recording purposes.
  • The CCC will make the decision on funding and all decisions are final.
  • Funding will cease in 2020

FAR Reimbursement Application Form including part funding

CCC Name:

 

  Carlow CCC
Address:

 

 Enterprise House, O’Brien Road, Carlow
Email: 

 

 connie@carlowccc.ie Telephone: 059 9140244

Childminder Reopening Grant date extended to 15th September

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Attention Childminders! €1000 Childminding Re-Opening Grant.
Closing Date Now 5PM Friday 15th September 2020
See poster below

Learner Fund Graduate Bursary 2020

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Learner Fund Graduate Bursary – 2020

 

The Department of Children & Youth Affairs (DCYA) will re-open the Learner Fund Bursary to Early Learning and Care practitioners who are new graduates of a recognised Early Childhood Education and Care degree programme. The Carlow County Childcare Committees (CCC) will process and appraise Learner Fund Bursary applications.

 

The following rules apply to the Graduate Bursary:

 

  1. The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be either:
    1. On the DCYA Early Years Recognised Qualifications list and indicated as meeting the qualification requirements for room leader – higher capitation.

Or

  1. The applicant must hold a letter of eligibility to practice from DCYA which states that the qualification meets the standard for the higher capitation rate.
  1. The award must be placed at level 7/8/9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and achieved in the academic years 2014 – 2020.
  2. The bursary amount will be €750.
  3. The qualification must be a full, major award; the bursary cannot be paid in respect of partially completed awards.
  4. Letters from third level education providers which state that a partially completed award is equivalent to a full award should not be accepted.
  5. The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be that which qualifies the person to work in the Early Years sector (and is at least level 7 on the NFQ).
  6. Applicants may only apply once and cannot be granted the Learner Fund bursary for a second time if they have already received it before i.e. the bursary will be paid for one of the following – a level 7 OR a level 8 OR a level 9 qualification.
  7. The applicant cannot have received any public funding in support of their completing the award relating to this application.
  8. The bursary is available to experienced practitioners only; applicants must have been working in a Tusla registered Early Learning & Care Servicerior to beginning their course.
  9. Applicants must be currently working in a Tusla registered Early Learning & Care Service.
  10. Staff working in standalone School Age Childcare services are not eligible to apply.
  11. Application must be made by the holder of the award and not by any third party on their behalf.

 

With that regard, the following documents are available

Learner Fund Graduate Bursary Rules for Applicants

Learner Fund Graduate Bursary 2020 Application Form

Key dates for consideration

Sept 14th Applications open to CCCs
Oct 23rd Deadline for submission of applications – close at 5pm
Nov 3rd CCCs provide spreadsheet of recommendations/decisions to Pobal

Kind regards,

Pobal Early Years Operations Team