This Weeks News & Information Bulletin
Click HERE for this week in Childcare Bulletin
Deadlines/Important Dates:
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15th April
Childminding Development Grant 2026 application closes
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20th-30th April
The National Conversation on Education: The First Five Years and School-Age Childcare – Consultations with City and County Childcare Committees
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1st May
Applications close for Nurturing Skills Learner Fund
QIPP Report Template 2025/2026.
The Core Funding QIPP Report Template 2025/26 is now open on the CFCRRS Portal. The deadline for completion of the 2025/26 QIPP Report is Friday, 31 July 2026.
Annual Early Years Sector Profile survey
The 2025/26 survey is expected to be launched on the Early Years Hive at the beginning of May, and services will have three weeks to complete the survey. Guidance documentation and training videos will be available on the Early Years Hive. In addition, Cork County Childcare Committees is available to assist. While it is anticipated that all services will complete the survey, the completion of this year’s survey is mandatory for all existing Core Funding Partner Services.
Training Courses
Cork County Childcare Committee Training
Always Children First: Child Safeguarding Awareness Training for Organisations (Foundation Level)
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Clonakilty Park Hotel, Clonakilty, 09:30 – 16:30, Saturday 18 April
Each participant must complete both the universal 'Children First E-learning Programme' and the 'Mandated Persons' E-learning Programme (available on the Tusla website and links below) prior to attending the course.
Universal E-Learning: Children First E-Learning ProgrammeTusla - Child and Family Agency
Mandated Persons E-Learning: Children First: Mandated Person Role and Responsibilities | Rise 360
The National Conversation on Education: The First Five Years and School-Age Childcare – Consultations with City and County Childcare Committees
Have Your Say in the Future of Early Learning and School-Age Childcare.
As part of the National Conversation on Education: the First Five Years and School-Age Childcare the Department is holding a series of local consultation events taking place nationwide from 20–30 April 2026. These consultations are being organised and delivered by the 30 City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs). Please see link below.
National Conversation on Early Years Education- Fill out form
Each consultation will run for approximately 1.5-2 hours giving all participants the opportunity to contribute. Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. Whether you’re a parent, an early year's educator, a school age childcare practitioner, a childminder, a service provider, or someone with an interest in the future of early learning and care and school age childcare- we want to hear from you.
Nurturing Skills Learner Fund 2026/27
Applications for the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) for the academic year 2026/2027 are open. Applications should be submitted via the NSLF student portal. Send a request to NSLF@pobal.ie to register on the NSLF student portal. The portal will close for applications on 1 May 2026 at 5 pm.
A recording of the recent webinar is here
Pre-Registration Training for Childminders
Cork County Childcare Committee is delighted to offer Pre-Registration Training to anyone who is interested in finding out more about childminding. This is a mandatory training programme for childminders who wish to register with Tusla. For any potential childminders, this training will support understanding of the new childminding regulations and will provide guidance on what is 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. Please see additional information on the Childminders tab above Training and Events.
The upcoming online training dates are as follows:
Online: Tuesday 14th, Wednesday 22nd & 29th April from 10am – 12pm
Online: Wednesday 13th May & 20th May from 6.30pm to 9.30pm
If you are interested in attending any of these Pre-Registration Training Courses, please click on the link below to book your place:
Childminding Pre-Registration Training Cork County Childcare Committee 2026 – Fill in form
Please contact Denise at dquinlan@corkchildcare.ie / 087 1044448 with any queries.
Cork City Childcare Committee Childminding Pre-Registration Training dates:
In Person: Sat 21st March Location: Cork City Childcare, T12P9PV Time: 10am - 4pm
Online: Weds 15th, 22nd & 29th April Time: 10am - 12pm
Online: Weds 13th & 20th May Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Booking link: Childminding Pre-Registration Training Cork City Childcare Committee (Q1) – Fill out form For more information contact nessa@corkcitychildcare.ie
Tusla Dedicated Contact Points
The Dedicated Contact Points (DCP) have changed to reflect new structures and networks within Tusla. Some old DCP numbers may remain in use until all changes have been finalised.
The DCP’s for Cork are:
Cork North-West & Cork East 021-4927000
Cork South West 021-4923001
North Cork – Kerry 064-6678065
Cork North – South Tipperary 052-6177302
The full contact details for DCP’s at county level can be found here.
National Conversation on Education – Children’s Creative Spaces
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley is inviting children from Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services across the country to take part in Children’s Creative Spaces celebrating the theme “Where I learn and play” The aim is to give children the opportunity to express creativity, belonging, and their own experiences of their setting (Early Years or SchoolAge Childcare/AfterSchool) adding their voice as part of the National Conversation on Education: the First Five Years and School-Age Childcare.
Timeline
31 March – 30 April: Educators/settings engage in art activities with the children in their service using guidance provided by DCDE.
7 May: Submit digital version of artwork to CCCs via info@corkchildcare.ie
15 May – 31 May: Keep an eye out for local galleries on your CCC website and social media accounts.
Please note that artwork submitted to the Children’s Creative Spaces may be published on gov.ie, on CCC websites, in future government documents, in follow-up reports, and on social media accounts. By submitting artwork, it will be taken that consent has been obtained by services from children and parents for the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the City and County Childcare Committees.
An Comhrá Náisiúnta ar an Oideachas – Spásanna Cruthaitheacha do Leanaí
Tá cuireadh á thabhairt ag an Aire Leanaí, Míchumais agus Comhionannais Norma Foley do leanai ó sheirbhísí Fhoghlaim agus Chúram na Luath-oige agus Cúraim Leanaí in Aois Scoile fud fad na tíre páirt a ghlacadh i Spásanna Cruthaitheacha do Leanai ina gceiliúrfar an téama “An ait a bhfoghlaimím agus a súgraím” Is é an cuspóir an deis a thabhairt do leanaí an chruthaitheacht, a muintearas, agus a dtaithí féin ar a suíomh (Cúram Leanaí/Iarscoile Luathbhlianta nó in Aois Scoile) a léiriú agus a nglór a chur san áireamh mar chuid de An Comhrá Náisiúnta ar an Oideachas – na Chéad 5 Bliana agus Cúram Leanaí in Aois Scoile
Amlíne
31 Márta- 30 Aibreán:Tugann oideachasóirí / suíomhanna faoi ghníomhaíochtaí ealaíon leis na leanaí ina seirbhís tríd an treoir a thug an DCDE a úsáid.
7 Bealtaine: Leagan digiteach den saothar ealaíne a sheoladh chuig Coiste Contae agus Cathrach I gCúram Leanaí info@corkchildcare.ie
15 Bealtaine-31 Bealtaine: Bí ag faire amach do dhánlanna áitiúla ar shuíomh gréasáin agus I gcuntais mheán sóisialta do CCC.
Tabhair faoi deara gur féidir saothair ealaíne a sheoltar chuig Spásanna Cruthaitheacha do Leanaí a fhoilsiú ar gov.ie, ar shuíomhanna gréasáin CCC, i ndoiciméid rialtais amach anseo, i dtuairiscí leantacha, agus i gcuntais mheán sóisialta. Glacfar leis, má sheoltar saothar ealaíne, go bhfuair seirbhísí toiliú ó leanaí agus tuismitheoirí don Roinn Leanaí, Míchumais agus Comhionannais agus na Coistí Contae agus Cathrach i gCúram Leanaí.
Childminding Development Grant 2026
The Childminding Development Grant is open for applications until Wednesday, 15 April 2026. For further information about the Childminding Development Grant 2026, including the application form, visit Cork County Childcare Committee or contact Denise Quinlan at dquinlan@corkchildcare.ie / (022) 23880.
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.
