Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme
Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme
| Closing date | 17:30, Thursday 03 April 2025 |
|---|---|
| Maximum awarded | €40,000 |
| Artform and practice(s) | Children and Young People’s Arts |
| Applicant type | Individual Artist, Organisation |
| Contact | Eimear Harte |
| childrenandyoungpeople@artscouncil.ie |
The purpose of the Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme 2025 is to provide opportunities for babies and young children to explore and enjoy the arts with the support of artists, early-years educators, school-age practitioners, families and carers. Priority will be given to proposals that provide meaningful opportunities for babies and young children to explore and engage with the arts; while supporting artists, early-years educators, school-age practitioners, families and carers to collaborate, share learning, and develop their capacity in this area. Proposals should include a considered approach to documentation, evaluation and reflection, and should have the capacity to inform wider practice.
The Arts in Early Learning and Childcare Scheme 2025 has three strands.
Strand 1: Early Learning and Childcare
This strand supports partnerships between artists/arts organisations and Tusla-registered early learning and care (ELC) and/or school-age childcare (SAC) services. Eligible services include community and private services, ELC services, ELC and SAC combined services, and stand-alone SAC services.
Strand 2: International Protection (birth–6-year-olds)
This strand supports partnerships between artists/arts organisations and those working with children from Ukraine and others who have been impacted by war, displacement and loss. Proposals should be centred in trauma-informed practice. Projects can be facilitated within local Stay and Play sessions, parent-and-toddler groups or other locations that support Ukrainian and other children seeking international protection from birth to 6 years of age.
Strand 3: Combined Contexts
You should apply for this strand if your proposal includes services that meet the requirements of Strand 1 and other services that meet the requirements of Strand 2.
Access Supports
If you have a disability and would like help applying, contact our Access Officer as early as possible before the deadline.
Phone:
- 01 618 0200
- 01 618 0243
Email: disabilityaccess@artscouncil.ie
You will be able to apply for additional costs if you have access needs relating to your application.
Note: applications will only be accepted through the Arts Council’s Online Services site. If you have not used Online Services before you must register for a login to be able to apply for funding. It is important that you register as early as possible as it may take up to five working days for your registration to be processed.
How do I apply for this?
- Download and read the guidelines available at the top right-hand corner of this page.
- Check if there is any mandatory supporting material that must accompany your application. We may provide a template for the supporting material. If so, you can download it from the supporting materials section at the top right-hand corner of this page.
- All applications must be made through the online services website. You will be able to upload a wide range of support materials in electronic format along with your application form.
- You must be registered with the online services website to make an application. If you are not already registered, we recommend you register for online services as far in advance of the deadline as possible, as it may take five days for your online services registration to be processed.
Insightful webinar on the updated Aistear framework
Join NCCA for an insightful webinar on the updated Aistear framework. This session will explore the updated Framework by examining its Vision, Principles and Themes. It will also present the Guidance for Good Practice and highlight additional supports available. Early years educators will gain valuable insights to enhance their understanding of these updates before official implementation of the updated Aistear in September 2025.
Speakers will include:
Donna Carolan, Acting Director, Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA
Dr Sharon Skehill, Education Officer, NCCA
Dr Mary Daly, Education Officer, NCCA
Lorraine Farrell, National Aistear Development Officer, NCCA
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth invites applications to an Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund call for proposals
PRESS RELEASE
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth invites applications to an Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund call for proposals
- A maximum of €1.5m will be made available to one or more organisations to provide rehabilitative services and other supports for survivors of torture residing in Ireland.
- Minimum grant amount of €495,000, over 1-2 years, under Ireland’s national programme for the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).
28 February 2025
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth today launched a Call for Proposals from organisations capable of providing rehabilitative services and other supports for survivors of torture and victims of cruel and inhuman or degrading treatment. This follows funding provided to 18 organisations in 2023 following a broader Call for Proposals, which was supported by the 2021-2027 AMIF Programme. As a result of these initiatives, the path towards integration of migrants, many of whom have fled very challenging circumstances in other countries, has been made significantly easier.
The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) is an EU fund that aims to boost national capacities and improve procedures for migration management, as well as to enhance solidarity and responsibility sharing between Member States.
How to apply:
Applicants can access a detailed guidance document and complete an online application form here.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 12 pm on 28 March 2025.
ENDS
Note for Editors:
This call is part of the AMIF 2021-2027 National Programme and open to public, private and voluntary bodies.
· Under both the previous (2014-2020) and current AMIF national programme, the Government has supported a wide range of NGO-led migrant integration and support programmes; aspects of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP); the HSE SafetyNet mobile health screening unit; and the Returns Programme operated by the Department of Justice for asylum seekers whose claims have not been successful, or who choose to voluntarily return to their home country.
· The AMIF 2021-2027 Programme, at both EU and national levels, is comprised of four Specific Objectives:
(1) strengthening and developing all aspects of the Common European Asylum System, including its external dimension;
(2) strengthening and developing legal migration to the Member States in accordance with their economic and social needs, and promoting and contributing to the effective integration and social inclusion of third-country nationals;
(3) contributing to countering irregular migration, enhancing effective, safe and dignified return and readmission, and promoting and contributing to effective initial reintegration in third countries;
(4) enhancing solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility between the Member States,
Beneficiaries of temporary protection fleeing the conflict in Ukraine are eligible to participate on AMIF-funded projects.
Further information can be obtained from the AMIF Managing Authority, Funds Administration Unit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, at amif@equality.gov.ie
Issued by the Press and Communications Office at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Tel: 01 539 3801
Email: press.office@equality.gov.ie
NSLF student employment record and applications training invite
Dear Service Provider,
You and your staff are invited to attend training on the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) Registrations, Employment Record and Student Applications training. The sessions will be held on 10 and 11 March 2025, as applications for the NSLF for the academic year 2025/2026 will open shortly.
As part of this training, we will be demonstrating 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
Please see below the links to register with Microsoft Teams:
NSLF Registrations, Employment Record and Student Applications Session 1
Monday 10 March from 10.30am to 12.00pm
NSLF Registrations, Employment Record and Student Applications Session 2
Tuesday 11 March from 2.30pm – 4:00pm
NSLF Registrations, Employment Record and Student Applications Session 3
Tuesday 11 March from 6:30pm – 8:00pm
A recording of one of the webinars will be made available on the Early Years Hive and the NSLF Student Portal along with the PowerPoint slides once the training has been completed.
We kindly ask that questions asked on the day are kept to the topic of the NSLF Student Application.
Please ensure all staff are made aware of this training and the relevant times and dates and to assist with this please note the following regarding eligibility
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
Continuing Students
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.
Kind Regards,
The Early Years Team
Kind Regards,
The Early Years Team
AIM Level 5 Equipment – Transfer of Ownership process is now open
Dear Service Provider,
The AIM Level 5 Transfer of Ownership process is now open, Friday 28 February 2025.
Services with AIM Level 5 equipment which is due to transfer at the end of the ECCE 2024/2025 programme call will receive a notification on the Early Years Hive.
A How to Guide and recordings of the Training Webinars are available in the Help & Support section on the Early Years Hive.
Should you have any queries in relation to AIM Level 5 Transfer of Ownership, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre by raising a Request using the following categories:
• Programme: AIM Level 5
• Request Type: Equipment
• Request Type Detail: Transfer of Ownership
Regards,
The Early Years Team
Scheduled updates to the Early Years Hive on Thursday 27 February 2025
Dear Service Provider,
The Early Years Hive will be temporarily unavailable on Thursday 27 February 2025 at 4pm for up to 5.5 hours.
During this time, a number of updates to the Early Years Hive will be released to ensure that both the system runs as smoothly as possible.
Afterwards you may need to refresh your web browser to access the portal again.
We try to hold these releases out of hours to reduce disruption. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your cooperation.
Regards,
The Early Years Team
‘Children’s Promise’ Grants Programme 2025 is open!
All children are born with the potential to thrive and the ‘Children’s Promise’ Grants Programme aims to support community-based organisations working to protect that potential and to support the wellbeing of their families.
The ‘Children’s Promise’ Grants Programme is a funding programme within Katharine Howard Foundation (KHF). KHF focuses on prevention and early intervention initiatives, to support the best life outcomes for young children. This grants programme is a collaboration with Community Foundation Ireland and we are grateful for their support. In 2025, we are delighted to welcome the support of the Sunflower Charitable Foundation for the grants programme.
The ‘Children’s Promise’ Grants Programme is a promise from KHF to provide financial and other supports to selected organisations, to support and develop the potential of the children engaged with the organisations.
The Programme aims to build on the powerful work taking place at community-level to address child poverty with a grants programme of €1,000,000 in financial and non-financial supports over the duration of the programme 2023-27.
The Programme aims to build on the powerful work taking place at community-level to address child poverty with a grants programme of €1,000,000 in financial and non-financial supports over the duration of the programme 2023-27.
The 2025 Grants Programme is now open, and organisations are invited to apply. The closing date for all applications is 20 March 2025 at 1pm.
For further information and to apply please visit the website here
All queries should be made by email only to info@khf.ie
AIM Level 5 equipment – Transfer of Ownership process opens on Friday 28 February 2025
Dear Service Provider,
The AIM Level 5 Transfer of Ownership process will open on Friday 28 February 2025.
Services with AIM Level 5 equipment which is due to transfer at the end of the ECCE 2024/2025 programme call will receive a notification on the Early Years Hive.
A How to Guide and recordings of the Training Webinars are available in the Help & Support section on the Early Years Hive.
Should you have any queries in relation to AIM Level 5 Transfer of Ownership, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre by raising a request using the following categories:
- Programme: AIM Level 5
- Request Type: Equipment
- Request Type Detail: Transfer of Ownership
Regards,
The Early Years Team