About Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF)

In December, 2023 in line with commitments in Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028 the pilot of a new Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) was launched. The pilot NSLF aims to assist early year’s educators to pursue early learning and care (ELC) qualifications at level 7 and level 8 that have been approved by the Qualifications Advisory Board (QAB) while continuing to work in the sector.

At the heart of Nurturing Skills is a vision of “a well-qualified, skilled, diverse and valued professional workforce that is centred on children’s rights, needs and potential and that provides quality experiences for children in partnership with families, and which continues to advance its professional development within a coherent and competent system.” The new pilot NSLF will play an important role in achieving this vision.

The scheme applies to those Early Years Educators who are entering an NSLF approved ELC level 7 or 8 qualification for the first time, therefore an applicant for NSLF must not hold or be undertaking an Approved Course at level 7 or level 8 at the time of application and funding.

The NSLF makes up to a 90% contribution to course fees for participating students. Funding will be paid each year to an amount of 80% of the total cost of course fees (after discounting other governmental assistance such as Free Fees, SUSI etc..) to a maximum cap of €3,200 per academic year. This funding will be paid directly to the educational intuition on behalf of successful applicants. The remaining 10% (of the overall 90% contribution) will be refunded to the applicants after completion of the course and contingent on the successful applicants remaining working in the sector for 6 months after completing.

This is a pilot scheme and is limited to funding available. Therefore, where demand is greater that the available funding, selection of successful applicants will be based on a prioritisation criteria.

For the academic year 2024/2025, over 600 applicants were completed and verified as meeting the criteria for the pilot NSLF. 350 applicants were successful and received NSLF funding for the academic year 2024/2025.

Further Information: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/a9351-nurturing-skills-learner-fund/