WELCOME TO
CORK COUNTY CHILDCARE COMMITTEE

• 6th May 2025

Access & Inclusion Model (AIM) Level 4, Level 5 and Level 7 standard applications for the 2025/2026 programme are now open​

• 27th May 2025: 

Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2024/25 is open from 6th May- 27th May 2025

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley - TD today (16th May) announced the 2025 Childminding Development Grant Awards.

413 childminders across the country will receive €411,338 in combined funding – the highest number of recipients and highest amount of funding ever awarded under the annual Grant scheme.

The Minister’s support for the Grants reflects her ongoing commitment to the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-28.

Click HERE for press release 

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

HSE sent out communication on the importance of the MMR vaccine and being measles aware.

Click HERE to view the letter and

Click HERE for poster.

If you have already submitted your AIM Non-term applications and did not include the required summer dates, please submit a ‘change of circumstance’ review to add the relevant dates. Please note, AIM  Non-term reviews may take up to 6 weeks to process.  
A guide on how to submit a change of circumstances review can be found HERE.  

The programme is designed to support childminder’s understanding of child safeguarding in a childminding context. The training comprises of 2 sessions; participants must attend both sessions to receive their certificate.

• Session 1: Introduction and Context + Child Centred Practice - Promoting the Welfare of Children

• Session 2: Safeguarding Awareness Raising and Responding to Concerns - Protecting children from harm

IMPORTANT - All participants must complete two eLearning programmes prior to attending the Tusla Always Children First: Foundation Training (See links below to access these programmes)

• Tusla’s Children First E-Learning Programme (1.5 hours maximum)

• Tusla’s Children First Mandated Person: Role and Responsibilities eLearning Module (1 hour maximum)

Two separate workshops will take place, the dates are as follows:

• Saturday 12th July from 9:30am – 4:30pm at the Vienna Woods Hotel, Cork

• Monday 14th & Thursday 17th July from 6:30pm – 9:30pm at the Vienna Woods Hotel, Cork

To book your place on this training, please contact cptraining@corkchildcare.ie for a booking form.

If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact Denise Quinlan, Childminding Development Officer on (022) 23880 / dquinlan@corkchildcare.ie

The Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2024/25 can now be completed.

It is important that the data in your Service Profile is up to date at the time of the Annual Early Years Sector Profile survey. Please make sure your Service Profile has been updated on the Early Years Hive on or after Friday, 2 May. This ensures that the most up to date information is included in the data collected for the survey.

All services are encouraged to complete the survey; however, completing this year’s survey within the open window is mandatory for all existing Core Funding Partner Services. Services wishing to become a Core Funding Partner Service in the future must also complete the survey before submitting their Core Funding application. For more information and support, please go to AEYSP Survey - Service Provider Portal

Click HERE for further information.

Please submit your AIM Non-term 2024/2025 applications for the summer months on the Early Years Hive as soon as possible. If you have already submitted the applications and did not include the required summer dates, please submit a ‘change of circumstance’ review to add the relevant dates. A guide on submitting a change of circumstances review can be found HERE.

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley - TD, together with Minister of State for Charities, Gaeltacht and the Islands & Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer today announced the launch of this year’s My Little Library free book bag for almost 60,000 children starting primary school.

Please share it with families using your service.

Click HERE for Press Release

Press HERE for Poster

Please submit your AIM Non-term 2024/2025 applications for the summer months on the Early Years Hive as soon as possible.  AIM non-term applications may take up to 12 weeks to process. 
When submitting an AIM Non-term application, we recommend you submit all dates in which AIM Non-term support is required over the summer period. 

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

• ·Springfort Hall Hotel, Mallow on Saturday 14th June from 10am-5pm.                               

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

Please click HERE for relevant information: Preventing the spread of covid 19 in school or childcare.

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

Access & Inclusion Model (AIM) Level 4, Level 5 and Level 7 standard initial and Review & Confirm applications for the 2025/2026 programme year are open now.

AIM Level 7 Plus and Non-term applications for the 2025/26 programme call will open mid-summer. Services are reminded to submit any relevant AIM application at least three months prior to a child’s planned start date in ECCE. For further support, please see the Better Start / AIM - Service Provider Portal

The Better Start Team work in a mentoring capacity with Early Learning and Care settings to support the implementation of the National Frameworks Síolta and Aistear. Register today to secure your place at their next webinar: Better Start Quality Development Information Session. This will take place online on May 27th from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. You'll have the chance to connect with team members and explore the mentoring options available for your setting. Visit the Better Start Website Training and Events or click HERE to register.

The service profile now includes additional questions in the Facility Details and Staff Information sections. All new questions are mandatory; existing staff information needs to be reviewed and updated.

This training provides DLPs with additional guidance on their roles and responsibilities and will explore how DLPs communicate, respond to and report child safeguarding concerns.

Location: Blarney Woollen Mills Hotel, Blarney          Date: Thursday 5th June; 1:30pm – 5pm

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

Cork County Childcare Committee are offering the following on-line Pre-Registration Training for Childminders. Tuesday 13th, 20th & 27th May 2025 from 6.30pm to 9pm

This is a mandatory training programme for 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 receive a certificate upon completion. There is no expiry date for this training certificate.

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