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WELCOME TO
CORK COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE

For Childcare Providers in your area


This Weeks News & Information Bulletin
15th March-21st March 2025 
Click HERE for this week in Childcare Bulletin

Deadlines

28th March 2025

Deadline for Parent & Toddler Group Grant applications

31st March 2025 @12pm

Final date for survey submission on Experiences of ELC’s supporting Ukrainian families

4th April 2025

Deadline for Childminding Development Grant 2025

1st May 2025

Nurturing Skills Learner Fund application process closes

Updated Aistear for the ELC sector

The Early Childhood team in NCCA is developing a series of blogs to share insights on the recently updated Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. The blogs will support educators, families and other interested stakeholders in becoming familiar with the new and enhanced concepts of the updated Framework. The first blog in the series focuses on the Principles of Aistear and illustrates the importance of the principles as the foundation for early learning and development for babies, toddlers and young children. Other blogs to date look at the: The agentic educator in Aistear and Aistear and the Irish language. Future blogs will explore Aistear and the Outdoors; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Aistear; Aistear and the Arts; Emergent Literacy; Emergent numeracy; and STEM in the updated Framework. The blogs can be accessed at the following link: Aistear blogs

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 as Buggy Walking Groups. For further information or to request an application form, contact info@corkchildcare.ie or 022 23880

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 info@corkchildcare.ie or 022 23880  

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

Cork County Childcare Committee Facebook Page 

We invite you to visit our website here and like and follow our Facebook page Cork County Childcare Committee Ltd for lots of updates and relevant content here.

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Covid Case Advice

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Please see below links to relevant information: Preventing the spread of covid 19 in school or childcare - HSE    &  Pre_School_ManagementInfectiousDisease.pdf

General Covid-19 queries: Contact HSE on 1800 700 700 between 8 am and 8 pm Monday to Friday and 9 am - 5 pm Saturday and Sunday / HSE Covid-19

Nurturing Skills Learner Fund 2025 2026

The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) is now open to applicants for the academic year 2025/2026. NSLF is continuing, as a pilot phase, and will support Early Years Educators working in a Partner Service to undertake approved ELC Level 7/ 8 courses while they continue to work within the sector. NSLF will cover 90% of the course fees for successful applicants.

Attached you will find a Press Release from Minister Norma Foley announcing the opening of the NSLF and an information document detailing the Application Process and Timeline, Rules and Conditions, Eligibility Criteria, and Selection Criteria.

Applicants should contact NSLF@pobal.ie to request a link to register on the NSLF Student Portal, upload their employment details and complete the new application process. The application process closes on 1st May 2025.

Survey: Experiences of ELC services in supporting Ukrainian Families Displaced by Conflict

Early Learning and Care (ELC) services across Ireland are invited to take part in a short survey exploring experiences in supporting Ukrainian families displaced by conflict. Your insights will help identify what has worked well, the challenges faced, and how we can better prepare for similar situations in the future.

 The survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete, and all responses will be handled with care. The final date for responses is 31st March at 12.00pm. Your input will help shape practical improvements that make a real difference for families and ELC services alike. Your time and thoughts will be really appreciated. You can access the survey here: ELC Survey

Always Children First: Child Safeguarding Awareness for Organisations

There are places available at our Always Children First: Child Safeguarding Awareness Training for Organisations: (Foundation Level) at the following dates/ locations:

Location: Vienna Woods Hotel, Glanmire    Date: Saturday 29th March @9:30am – 4:30pm    

Location: Clonakilty Park Hotel, Clonakilty   Date: Tuesday 1st & Tuesday 8th April @1:30pm – 4:30pm   

Location: Firgrove Hotel, Mitchelstown        Date: Saturday 26th April @9:30am-4:30pm                                

For further information and to book a place please contact the office on 022-23880 or email cptraining@corkchildcare.ie 

Repeat of Updated Aistear Framework Webinar

For those who missed it, the NCCA are providing another opportunity to attend a repeat webinar on the updated Aistear Framework on Thursday March 27th at 7pm. 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 

To register for the event, please click on this link

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EC STEM project – request for support

OUTSTE(A)M is an exciting STEM project which aims to provide high quality STEM education in Early Childhood Education & /care settings and primary schools using a play-based hands-on learning approach in the outdoors.  OUTSTE(A)M are seeking educator opinions about their draft materials before they are released to the public.  If you are interested in reviewing the materials then click on this link to complete the anonymous online questionnaire.

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Upcoming Training Courses

Cork County Childcare are delighted to offer you the following courses. Please click on the links below to book your places:

 

Supporting neurodiverse children in your setting

Online:  Tuesday 1st April 2025 @7pm to 9pm - https://forms.office.com/e/tEACnXe1ZY

Approaching Parents about concerns

Online:  Tuesday 8th April 2025 @7pm to 9pm - https://forms.office.com/e/K5B2hX4fvg

Understanding & Supporting behaviours of neurodiverse children & Introducing visuals in early years

In Person:  Clonakilty Park Hotel; Saturday 3rd May; 10am – 4pm

In Person: Vienna Woods Hotel; Saturday 17th May; 10am – 4pm

https://forms.office.com/e/CHsJ3xaUvR

Free Membership of Barnardos Online Library

Barnardos are delighted to invite early years providers, school age childcare providers and childminders to register for free membership to their online library.  Funded by Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Barnardos Library has a unique collection of online resources to support you in your work, whether you are developing and reviewing policies, researching best practice or engaging in continuing professional development.  Benefits include access to:

  • EBSCO Discovery Service

  • Education Source Database

  • Sociology Source Database

  • A growing eBook collection

  • Table of contents alerts from the Journal of Infant Mental Health

  • A monthly members update of content that has been added to the online library collection

Contact Barnardos Library (resources@barnardos.ie) for more information, or register for free membership HERE 

Diversity Equality & Inclusion Training

Cork County Childcare Committee will be delivering training on the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Charter and Guidelines at the Vienna Woods Hotel, Glanmire on:

Saturday 7th June @ 9:30am – 5:30pm

Tuesday 10th June, Thursday 12th June & Tuesday 17th June @ 5:30pm – 9pm

This training course will support ELC & SAC Educators and Childminders to engage with the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Guidelines. It aims to foster awareness about Diversity, Equality and Inclusion and to encourage and support those working in the sector to actively advocate for inclusion for all children and their families within their settings. It will explore key issues in Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, and promote good practice.  It will also support educators in developing an inclusion policy for their setting. It may also help providers to meet the requirements of their Core Funding Quality Action Plan (QAP).

Services who participate on the 15hour training programme will receive a complimentary Diversity, Equality & Inclusion 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 a place on the training please click on the following link  https://forms.office.com/e/DnsTxQDJxw

Free Membership of Barnardos Online Library

Barnardos are delighted to invite early years providers, school age childcare providers and childminders to register for free membership to their online library.  Funded by Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Barnardos Library has a unique collection of online resources to support you in your work, whether you are developing and reviewing policies, researching best practice or engaging in continuing professional development.  Benefits include access to:

  • EBSCO Discovery Service

  • Education Source Database

  • Sociology Source Database

  • A growing eBook collection

  • Table of contents alerts from the Journal of Infant Mental Health

  • A monthly members update of content that has been added to the online library collection

Contact Barnardos Library (resources@barnardos.ie) for more information, or register for free membership HERE 

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CLICK HERE FOR PREVIOUS WEEKLY BULLETINS, NEWS & INFORMATION

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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.

CONTACT

  • facebook

info@corkchildcare.ie

022 23 880

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