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Please see below updates for week ending 9th June, 2023
The team at Wicklow County Childcare Committee are available as a source of support, information and advice, so please feel free to contact us with your queries on 0404-64455 or email info@wccc.ie
For individual staff contact details, please click the button below.
Information is regularly posted on our Facebook and Instagram pages and the latest news section of our website.
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16th June 2023
- Early Years Sector Profile deadline for submission has been extended
12th June 2023
- Closing date for Core Funding - Review and Confirm window for the 2022/2023 programme call
1st July 2023
- Final date for change in circumstances to Tusla (for operation in September)
21st July 2023
- Closing date for submission of Core Funding QAP Report
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Core Funding Quality Action Plan Report
As we are reaching the end of the 2022/2023 programme year those services who are signed up to Core Funding are required to complete their QAP Report. Wicklow CCC will be sending out a MS Forms link by email to services in the coming days to complete the Report. This form should only take a few minutes to complete and will give you an opportunity to give feedback on the QAP process for the first year. There will also be the opportunity for some services to attend face to face consultations on the process in the coming weeks also. If you have any queries with regard to completing the online form please contact the Development Officer for your area or call 0404 64455.
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Core Funding - Review and Confirm Reminder
Review and Confirm
This is a reminder the final Review and Confirm window for the 2022/2023 programme call will open to all partner services today Friday, 2 June, until Monday, 12 June, inclusive. This process enables Core Funding payments to continue by facilitating partner services to confirm that no changes have occurred or to submit an Application Change.
If a partner service does not complete the final Review and Confirm process within the required timeframe, Core Funding payments will be placed on hold until such a time as the process is completed. Please note, the late submission of a Review and Confirm form noting a decrease to the base rate value will be effective from the change effective date rather than the last day of the review and confirm window.
Preparing for Review and Confirm
To complete the Review and Confirm process, your Core Funding Application Module must be at status Approved.
If your previous application/application change is at “Approved” and you have an application change at a “Draft” status you must abandon the draft application prior to completing the Review and Confirm form.
If your application is at “Referred back”, you must address the reason for refer back and then complete the review and confirm process.
Core Funding Programme 2023/24
Partner services who have completed the June Review and Confirm process will be able to transfer their most recent Core Funding application data into their new Core Funding application for the 2023/24 programme year. Therefore, partner services are encouraged to complete the June Review and Confirm process as soon as possible within the specified timeframe.
Further information on the Core Funding application process for the 2023/24 programme year will be available in the coming weeks.
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New Core Funding allocations and payments how-to videos available on Hive
We would like to highlight new Core Funding how-to videos recently added to the Early Years Hive, which were created based on feedback from service providers.
These videos answer the below frequently asked allocations and payments questions for Core Funding:
- What am I going to get paid for Core Funding?
- How much Core Funding have I been awarded?
- How to find a breakdown of your Core Funding Payment?
The videos are available in the ‘Core Funding how-to training videos’ dropdown on the Training Videos page.
If you would like further support or clarification on the terminology used on the Funding tab on the Hive.
Help & Support
Should you have any queries in relation to Core Funding – Funding , please contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC) by raising a Request on Hive using the following categories:
- Programme: Core Funding
- Request type: Funding
- Request type detail: (select relevant request type)
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Compliance Visits During The Summer 2023 Months
The Pobal Compliance team will conduct unannounced visits over the summer months to ELC/SAC services whose calendars indicate that they are operational during the summer.
Services operating during the summer should ensure that all records relating to all programmes are available for review during such visits. This includes records for programmes that are paused over the summer months (e.g. ECCE). Records that should be available for inspection include all ECCE Roll books /Attendance records, Fee records, Parent declarations etc.
Outcomes notifications for compliance inspections carried out during the last weeks of term may issue to services during the summer closure period. All instances of non-compliance now require some form of rectification action within a timeline set out in the compliance report notified to service providers e.g. submit a declaration of compliance, submit documentary evidence. Please note that if the deadline for taking the requisite rectification action falls during a service’s summer closure period, Compliance will allow the service provider to take their rectification actions within 30 working days of their 2023/24 calendar.
The individual NCS, ECCE and CCSP Compliance Checklists 2022/2023 are available under the Resources /Compliance sections of the Hive. These Checklists will assist in collating the relevant information that form part of each programme’s compliance checks.
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Early Years Sector Profile Survey
The Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2022/2023 survey is live on the Early Years Hive.
The survey will remain open until Friday 16th June 2023 and can be accessed through the Early Years Hive. A training video and guidelines are also available on the Early Years Hive.
This comprehensive survey of all Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) settings in the country is the primary data source on this sector. It is developed and published by Pobal in collaboration with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).
The survey, which has been running for 21 years, plays a central role in informing policy development, assessing the impact of policy change and provides a comprehensive national analysis of approximately 4,400 ELC and SAC services throughout Ireland.
The data collected will be used to produce in-depth analysis of the sector across a range of areas. These include:
- Service detail and provision
- Capacity and attendance
- Staffing (numbers, qualifications, staffing retention, level of turnover etc.)
While we encourage all services to complete the survey, the completion of this year’s survey within the open window is mandatory for all existing Core Funding Partner Services. Services who wish to become a Core Funding Partner Service in the future must also complete the survey in advance of submitting their Core Funding application.
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Guidance for the registration and inspection of early years services operating outdoors
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What Works Ireland Evidence Hub
The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, has this week launched the What Works Ireland Evidence Hub.
The What Works Ireland Evidence Hub is an online tool designed to increase access to effective prevention and early intervention programmes by making the best evidence on what works available to policy makers, service commissioners, providers and other audiences. It promotes the use of evidence-based programmes and is linked to the five national outcomes which will be included in the forthcoming new National Policy Framework for Children and Young People.
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Together for Better: Guidelines to Support Fee Management
The document below, Together for Better: Guidelines to Support Fee Management, contains examples to assist with the understanding of the Core Funding fee management conditions. It does not cover all of Core Funding’s terms, conditions or rules.
This document also lays out the Core Funding Fee Review Process. Where a case of a potential breach of Core Funding fee rules by a Partner Service is identified, this may be examined and a conclusion reached through the Core Funding Fee Review process outlined within.
Together for Better is the new funding model for Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare. The new Funding Model supports delivery of early learning and childcare for the public good, for quality and affordability for children, parents/guardians and families.
Under Together for Better, Core Funding, is a key pillar of funding to early learning and childcare services that forms part of the new funding model as recommended by an Expert Group in their report, Partnership for the Public Good: A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, and approved by Government in December 2021.
One of the key features of Core Funding is the introduction of a system of fee management, to ensure that affordability measures are passed on to parents/guardians. To achieve this, Core Funding introduced fee management for the September 2022 -August 2023 programme year.
All services that participate in Core Funding must operate their early learning and childcare service in line with the terms and conditions outlined in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement and in accordance with the attached Guidelines. Services that have questions or queries about fee management, Core Funding or Together for Better are encouraged to contact their CCC for further guidance and support.
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AIM Level 4,5 & 7 Application Process Open for 2023/24
AIM Level 5
The AIM Level 5 application process for 2023/24 is open on the Early Years Hive, since Friday 5 May 2023.
AIM Level 4 & 7
The processes for AIM Level 4 applications (expert early years educational advice and support) and Level 7 (additional assistance in the pre-school room) initial and extension applications for the 2023/24 pre-school year is open on the Early Years Hive, since Friday 5 May, 2023.
Please refer to the AIM Hive Guides to support you with the submission of your AIM applications.
Please note where a child is remaining in the same service and requires a second year of AIM Level 7 support, an extension application must be submitted, notifying Pobal of any changes to the child’s or service’s circumstances.
Important Information
Services are reminded to submit AIM Level 4 and/or 7 applications at least three months prior to a child’s planned start date in ECCE.
Please note several training sessions were provided to service providers this week as a reminder of some key points to note when submitting AIM L 4, 5 & 7 applications. We would advise that service providers review the links below, prior to submitting applications:
- Slides from the training webinar
- Q&A Document from the webinar
- AIM 4, 5 and 7 Refresher Training Webinar
Help & Support
Should you have any queries in relation to the AIM programme, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC) by raising a Request on Hive using the following categories:
Programme: (select the AIM level)
Request type: Application
Request type detail: How To
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AIM Level 4,5 & 7 Webinar Training Supports
Important Information
The application process for Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) Level 4,5 & 7 supports opened on the Early Years Hive on Friday 5th May at 12 noon. Please refer to the AIM Hive Guides to support to support you with the submission of your AIM applications.
Services are reminded to submit AIM Level 4,5 & 7 applications at least three months prior to a child’s planned start date in ECCE.
Training Documents
Following on from the AIM Refresher webinars which took place on 27 and 28 April 2023, a number of training documents have been uploaded to the Early Years Hive.
We would advise that service providers review the training videos on the Hive, prior to submitting applications.
Help & Support
Should you have any queries in relation to the AIM programme, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC) by raising a Request on Hive using the following categories:
Programme: (select the AIM level)
Request type: Application
Request type detail: How To
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Change in Circumstance Applications
In accordance with the Regulations, a Registered Provider must submit a complete change in circumstance application at least 60 days in advance of the proposed change.
Fully completed applications (which includes the submission of all required documentation) for change in circumstances that are submitted before 1st July 2023, and will be approved for operation in September 2023.
Applications submitted after this date are unlikely to be approved in time for the beginning of the new academic year. Please note that some categories of change requests such as change of service type to part time or full day, and increase of numbers may require a fit for purpose inspections and should be factored into your preparations.
Important Information for all applications:
- To ensure a fair and transparent process for everyone, complete applications are dealt with in order of date of receipt. As soon as applications are submitted an automatic acknowledgement email will be sent. The registration team will then review and assess each application and liaise with you.
- Only applications with all the required documentation submitted are processed.
- If you submit an incomplete application, we will give you an additional 10 days to submit any outstanding documents. An application will be closed after this timeframe if there is still documentation outstanding and a new application will be required.
- While an application is being processed, we will communicate with you regarding key stages of the application. For example, we will advise you where information is missing, where the service has been passed to operations for a ‘fit for purpose’ inspection and when the application is approved or closed.
- We do not provide daily updates as this would take us away from the work of processing the
applications themselves. We ask that you are patient and allow us to undertake the necessary
work. Where information is submitted correctly, we will process all applications as quickly as
possible.
- We will only provide updates and respond to queries from the registered provider concerning an application, we do not provide information to third parties.
Whilst we make every effort to support providers during what is understandably an anxious and stressful time, we at times experience threatening, rude and/or abusive conduct towards our staff. In these circumstances, our staff members will terminate the interaction immediately and will refer the matter to a senior colleague. Any such conduct will not be tolerated.
We will continue to work hard to support providers to complete their applications successfully. We ask that providers:
➢ read the information available on the website carefully,
➢ understand the required timescales,
➢ ensure that all necessary documents are submitted for each application,
➢ work with our staff through the relevant application process.
The Early Years Inspectorate takes no responsibility for late or incomplete applications.
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Little Library 2023
Roderic O’ Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, together with Heather Humphreys, Minister for Rural and Community Development, today launched #MyLittleLibrary2023. This initiative, funded through Dormant Accounts Funding, offers a free book bag with storybooks for children and supportive information for parents for all children starting school in September 2023.
The aim of the initiative is that all children will start school with storybooks in their homes and as members of their local library.
This year’s initiative builds on the success of My Little Library 2022 when over 46,000 book bags were distributed to children starting school, in their local library. The initiative resulted in over 37,000, 4 and 5-year-old children joining the library.
Speaking today about My Little Library 2023, Minister O’Gorman said:
“I am delighted to announce the second year of the First 5 – My Little Library book bag for all the boys and girls leaving pre-school and starting school later this year. I hope that all the families with children starting school will visit their local library and pick up their My Little Library book bag and join the library for a life time of stories and reading”
“Thanks to our wonderful libraries across the country for partnering with us on this important initiative.”
Minister Humphreys added:
“It is great to see the My Little Library initiative go from strength to strength with the support of the library service. Parents signing their children up as library members are giving them a gift that will last a lifetime.”
Monaghan County Librarian and Chair of the Public Library National Strategic Programmes Committee, Catherine Elliott said:
“Local authority public libraries are delighted to be delivering the My Little Library Book Bag initiative for the second year.
“We look forward to welcoming all of the 4 and 5-year-old children starting school and their families in to collect their book bags and discover the benefits of library membership. Reading is so important for personal development and supporting children as they grow.
“We hope that our new cohort of library members and their families will come back regularly to refill their book bags and take part in all the events and activities we have on offer at the library”.
We would ask services to remind parents about this initiative and bring their children to their local library to collect their book bags
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Preparing Young Children for Primary School - A Resource for Parents, Early Learning and Care Settings and Schools
This resource was created by Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists working with the Demonstration Project on In School and Early Years Therapy Support.
The content of this booklet is based on evidence and therapist’s clinical experience of working with practitioners and teachers in Early Learning and Care settings and in primary schools. This booklet may be useful for parents, Early Learning and Care Practitioners and teachers of early primary school years in preparing all children to transition smoothly from the ECCE years into Junior Infants.
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See link below for the latest issue of ChildLinks, from Barnardos. This issue examines Environmental Sustainability in Early Childhood Education and Care.
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If you have positive cases and require support you can contact the HSE ELC/SAC dedicated helpline on 01 511 9777.
For general Covid-19 queries you can contact HSE live on 1800 700 700 or 01 240 8787 or visit the First 5 website (www.first5.gov.ie) for the most up to date information and guidance.
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Ukrainian Response Supports
The First 5 website is continually being updated with resources under the Ukraine Response tab.
The resources are intended to be of benefit to early years educators, school-age practitioners, children and families in many different circumstances across all communities. They are intended to support the well-being and inclusion of refugee children both from Ukraine and from other conflict zones.
'A Parent's Guide to Childcare in Ireland' from the DCEDIY is available on our website in Ukrainian and Russian. See links below to download.
We have also included links below to resources which services may find helpful which you can also pass on to parents.
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WCCC provide a Jobs Board service for all early years and school age childcare services in our county. We can advertise your vacancies on our Facebook page and website.
If you would like us to advertise your vacancies please send a copy of your advert to info@wccc.ie
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Child Protection Training
This training is for all staff working in Early Years or School Age services. Certs are valid for three years so if yours is out of date you will need to update your training.
To book a place on the course below, please email a copy of your Tusla e-Learning Cert (issued within 1 year of date of this course) to judy@wccc.ie. Once validated you will be sent an eventbrite link to register.
The training will take place on:
Date: 2nd November, Bray
Cost: €10 per person (lunch included)
For more details on this training see link below to our website.
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Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Training Programme for Early Years Educators
This 15 hour free training programme for educators has been developed around the Charter and Guidelines.
AIM Level 1 - The Approved Provider will engage with the City and County Childcare Committee (CCC) around participation in the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Charter and Guidelines training.
We would like to remind services that the following is outlined in Appendix 1 (page 16) of the ECCE funding agreement.
The National Training Programme provides practitioners with an opportunity to explore the concepts of Diversity and Equality within the preschool context and will support participants in the development of an inclusive early years environment for all children.
The training will take place in Laragh on the following dates;
8th July – 10am – 4pm
11th July – 6.30pm – 9.30pm
18th July – 6.30pm – 9.30pm
25th July – 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Participants must attend all four sessions to receive certification.
You can book a place via Eventbrite link below.
Please see below testimonies of those who have attended the training.
“Excellent course, very informative and made me reflect on my own practice”.
“I would highly recommend this course for everyone. Lots of reflective practice and self evaluation on your own biases and knowledge on a range of diversities in our society. Excellent course.”
“Very interesting course, very informative and opens your eyes to many aspects of diversity, equality and inclusion. I would fully recommend for anyone to do this course.”
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National Childhood Network Summer of Play
The National Childhood Network are running three CPD training opportunities starting next week from the 12th June. Click on the links below to book.
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Progressing the Play Agenda
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Tusla’s Designated Liaison Persons (DLP) eLearning Module
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TUSLA launches its long awaited Designated Liaison Person e module. This DLP eLearning module is universally accessible. There is no certificate available for this eLearning. For those who require evidence of completion, it is suggested that you screenshot the completion-page. In order to get the full benefit from this module, you should have already completed the “An Introduction to Children First” eLearning programme.
Both public and private organisations that are providing services to children should consider appointing a designated liaison person in keeping with best practice in child safeguarding. This person will be the resource person for any staff member or volunteer who has child protection concerns and will liaise with outside agencies. The designated liaison person should be knowledgeable about child protection and should be provided with any training considered necessary to fulfil this role.
The designated liaison person is responsible for ensuring that reporting procedures within your organisation are followed, so that child welfare and protection concerns are referred promptly to Tusla.
The name and contact details of the designated liaison person should be made available to all staff and volunteers working within your organisation. It may also be useful to appoint a deputy designated liaison person who will assume responsibility when the designated liaison person is not available or on leave.
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The National Child Safeguarding Programme www.childsafeguardingelc.ie have developed a number of Info Blasts including a Recording Concern Form and a Recording Concerns Form.
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Tusla’s Signs of Safety eLearning Programme
Tusla has developed a child protection e-learning briefing programme for professionals working with children and families in the community. It has been developed to support professionals in making referrals or reporting concerns to Tusla. It will introduce professionals to Tusla’s National Approach to Practice – Signs of Safety and explain how this is applied at each stage of our work with children and families- reporting, assessment and intervention.
The briefing will cover the principles and key components of the approach and detail how Signs of Safety is applied at every stage of Child Protection and Welfare Work. Through a true to life case study, the viewer is guided through what they can expect as a referrer when they report a concern, the kinds of questions they may be asked and how each stage is linked to safety planning.
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Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Practice Year 2 entry – Starting in Sept cost €1,100
In 2022, SETU launched their new Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Practice. The knowledge, skills and competencies acquired in the course of this programme are relevant to personal development, participation and employment in the Early Childhood Education sector and access to higher education and training opportunities.
This honours degree in Early Childhood Education and Practice enables the student to study a diverse range of subjects in order to gain a deep understanding of babies and children from birth to six years of age. Students develop a knowledge and understanding of Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework and Solita, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education, essential for professional work in this area of practice.
Year 2 entry for holders of QQI Level 6 award in Childcare.
More more info see link below.
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New resources added on Aistear Siolta Practice guide
There’s lots of new resources available across the Pillars of Practice on the Aistear Síolta Practice Guide. See link to resources below.
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First 5 CPD
A key objective of First 5 is to improve Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for all those who work in early learning and care and school-age childcare settings.
There are a number of free online courses and resources on the First 58 website that may suit your particular professional development needs. New content is added regularly so please check regularly to find new resources.
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Margot Kinsella - Childminding Development Officer
Margot Kinsella joins us as our Childminding Development Officer for the county. With a diverse background, Margot brings a unique perspective to her role. After earning her marketing degree with the Chartered Institute of Marketing, she spent 15 years working in the FMCG business sector before establishing her own market research agency in Dublin. However, Margot’s journey took a different path after starting a family, leading her to follow her passion for early childhood education. With a diploma in Montessori Education and a BA in Early Childhood Education and Care, Margot has accumulated over 10 years experience running her own preschool service. She looks forward to sharing her hands-on knowledge of day-to-day operations, coupled with her unwavering commitment to promoting quality within the sector.
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To contact Wicklow CCC team please call 0404-64455 or email info@wccc.ie
Assumpta O'Neill
County Childcare Manager
WICKLOW COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE
A: Kilmantin Hill, Wicklow Town, Co. Wicklow A67 ND90
T: 0404 64455 M: 087 2465933
E: assumpta@wccc.ie W: www.wccc.ie
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