This Weeks News & Information Bulletin
Click HERE for this week in Childcare Bulletin
Deadlines/Important Dates:
-
01 – 31 August:
Core Funding Review & Confirm
-
30 September:
QIPP Report final deadline
Bia Blasta
The Department for Children, Disability and Equality announced the launch of Bia Blasta (Delicious Food), the pre-school nutrition programme to provide daily lunches for pre-school children in disadvantaged areas. The full press release can be found HERE. Bia Blasta is being provided to all Equal Start Tier 1 and Tier 2 designated services that provide ECCE, and to other ECCE sessional services with the highest concentrations of disadvantage, as identified by the Equal Start Identification Model. ECCE Programme services that have not been invited by email to participate in Bia Blasta, cannot apply to participate, at this time.
QIPP Report Template 2024/2025
The final deadline for completing the QIPP end of year report is Tuesday 30th September 2025. Services who have not yet submitted their report can so do so via www.cfcrrs.ie. A guidance video is available here.
More Precious Than Gold
Childcare Services are being given the opportunity to raise funds for Childhood Cancer Ireland during September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Click HERE to view flyer.
Upcoming Training
Diversity Equality & Inclusion Training
Blarney Woollen Mills Hotel:
Saturday 20th September @ 9:30am – 4:30pm
Thursday 25th September @ 3pm – 6pm
Tuesday 30th September @ 3pm – 6pm
Thursday 2nd October @ 3pm – 6pm
Dunmanway CCC Office:
Saturday 11th October @ 9.30am – 4.30pm
Tuesday 14th October @ 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Monday 20th October @ 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Thursday 23rd October @ 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Each course consists of 15 hours of training. You must attend all 15 hours to receive your certificate. Following training the service will receive a resource pack to the value of €200. There is no cost for the training and lunch will be provided on the first day. To book places on the training please click on the following link https://forms.office.com/e/HMhFFUhDYz. Further information or queries can be made to 022 23880 / cpdtraining@corkchildcare.ie
AIM Level 5 2024/2025
The Transfer of Ownership process for the 2024/2025 programme call is closing. Any outstanding forms must be completed via The Hive as soon as possible. Additional information can be found HERE.
Core Funding August Review & Confirm
To ensure your Core Funding payments can commence at the start of the programme year, you are required to submit the August Review & Confirm before August 31st.
Your base rate will be capped at the approved August Review & Confirm base rate value. It is vital that you review the grant values on the Summary Funding page and make sure all information is accurate before you submit the August Review & Confirm. More details are available in the Announcement section of HIVE.
Upcoming Training
Always Children First Foundation Level Training *Final training dates for 2025*
-
Blarney Woolen Mills Hotel, Blarney: Saturday 6th September 10am -5pm
-
Vienna Woods Hotel, Glanmire: Saturday 11th October 9.30am -4.30pm
This is your last opportunity to avail of this training for 2025.
You can request a booking form for this course by emailing cptraining@corkchildcare.ie
Diversity Equality & Inclusion Training
-
Blarney Woollen Mills Hotel:
Saturday 20th September @ 9:30am – 4:30pm
Thursday 25th September @ 3pm – 6pm
Tuesday 30th September @ 3pm – 6pm
Thursday 2nd October @ 3pm – 6pm
-
Dunmanway CCC Office:
Saturday 11th October @ 9.30am – 4.30pm
Tuesday 14th October @ 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Monday 20th October @ 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Thursday 23rd October @ 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Each course consists of 15 hours of training in total. You must attend all 15 hours to receive your certificate. Following training the service will receive a resource pack to the value of €200. There is no cost for the training and lunch will be provided on the first day. To book places on the training please clink on the following link https://forms.office.com/e/HMhFFUhDYz. Further information or queries can be made to 022 23880 / cpdtraining@corkchildcare.ie
Programme Readiness
This year on the HIVE, you will find helpful checklists for each programme outlining programme readiness steps:
Tusla Registration Renewal
We encourage all services to check the Early Years register Early Years register or School Age register or your current Tusla certificate to confirm your current registration date. Services are required to complete a registration renewal every 3 years. Services are required to have a completed application submitted on the Tusla portal 2 months before the expiry of the current registration date. Tusla facilitate registration renewals up to 6 months in advance of the current registration date. It is advised that you apply for updated Garda Vetting in a timely manner. Due to the recently implemented changes to Garda Vetting procedures, the process may take extra time. You can access details of the new Garda Vetting procedures here. Further information on the registration renewal process can be accessed on the Tusla early years registration renewal webpage
Click HERE to find a useful checklist when preparing for your 2025 registration renewal with Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate.
Tusla: Change in Circumstance & Cessation
The new Change in Circumstance and Cessations forms are now available on the Tusla website. Please see links below:
Childminding: New CIC page:
https://www.tusla.ie/early-years-inspectorate/childminding-services/change-in-circumstances-cessations/
Preschool: EYI Tusla webpage:
https://www.tusla.ie/services/preschool-services/early-years-providers/change-in-circumstance/
School Age: Tusla webpage:
https://www.tusla.ie/services/family-community-support/school-age-services/i-am-a-school-age-provider/change-in-circumstance-cessations/
ECCE Fee Table
As per ECCE Programme Rule 3.1 – Fee Table Requirement:
“The ECCE Fee Table must be reflected on a weekly basis over the ECCE programme year i.e. over the 38 weeks of the programme, as well as details of any additional childcare hours, optional extra(s) (as approved by the local CCC), or any discounts applied by the ECCE Approved Provider.”
Staff Funding Additional Contribution
This new funding allocation will be released if and when the new Employment Regulation Orders (ERO) are agreed or on 1 September 2025, whichever is later. In preparation for this, Partner Servies are asked to have the application information up to date for the 2025/26 Core Funding programme year and ensure the most recent Core Funding application is at an ‘Approved’ Status. Further details will be released when the new EROs are agreed.
Pre- Registration Training for Childminders:
This is a mandatory training programme for existing or potential childminders who wish to register with Tusla. This training will support understanding of the new childminding regulations and will provide all the information required to register with Tusla. This is a FREE training course and takes approximately 7 hours to complete. There is no assessment, and participants will receive a certificate upon completion. There is no expiry date for this training certificate. Attendance at the training will support one to make an informed decision regarding registration with Tusla.
Upcoming Training dates:
September 2025: Friday 26th September; Midleton; 9.30am – 5pm
Thursday 11th, Thursday 18th & Wednesday 24th September; Online; 6.30pm – 9pm
November 2025: Saturday 15th November; Macroom; 9.30am – 5pm
If you are interested in attending any of these Pre-Registration Training courses, please click on this link to book your place: https://forms.office.com/e/BK0xWmUmrY
Any queries about the training or childminding can be made to dquinlan@corkchildcare.ie / 022 23880.
New Aistear Poster for Early Learning & Care Settings!
We’re excited to announce a new poster designed especially for Early Learning & Care settings on Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework.
All of the original graphics featured in the Framework and the Guidance for Good Practice are now available as individual posters! These can be downloaded and printed to support your setting’s learning environment. You can access the posters here.
Updated Garda Vetting
There is a new Garda Vetting process in place for ELC/SAC services since 1st February 2025, and it can take over 2 months to complete. The following now applies:
• TUSLA manage Garda Vetting services for registered providers, including childminders, as well as Chairpersons of Boards of Management (where they are the registered provider) and board members who have access to children. Further information is available here.
• Early Childhood Ireland (ECI) manage Garda Vetting services for all employees in ELC and SAC services. For more information, go to the ECI website.
• Barnardos no longer provide vetting services
Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNBV) Affiliate Registration Number
For Services previously with Barnardos requiring a new GNBV affiliate registration number you can find the step on applying here.
Cork County Childcare Committee was formed in 2001 and is funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) to improve the quality of childcare in Cork County.
In addition to supporting the administration of all Government funding programmes for childcare; City and County Childcare Committees work with early childhood services and childminders looking for support with quality development, HR, governance, financial sustainability and continuing professional development.
We also work with Parents to locate childcare best suited to their families needs, and advise on relevant government funded schemes etc.
