Dear Service Provider, 
The first stage of Programme Readiness for ECCE, AIM Level 1, NCS and the CCSP Saver Programme 2023/2024 is now available for services to complete on the Early Years Hive.
To activate a funding agreement for ECCE, NCS and the CCSP Saver Programmes, the Primary Authorised User (PAU) for the service must complete the following steps on the All Programmes Applications page of the Early Years Hive:
- Confirm Organisation Details
- Confirm Service Provider Details
- Confirm PAU
- Confirm Portal Users
- Confirm Bank Account
- Confirm Tusla Registration
- Create/Confirm 2023/2024 Service Calendar
- Confirm Qualifications and Minimum Numbers (ECCE only)
- Activate the Funding Agreement
Please see below for more information and guidance on the programme readiness tasks for each programme, as well as important information regarding changes to service fees lists for the 2023/2024 programme year and how Tusla registration numbers are confirmed at funding agreement activation.
ECCE
The programme rules for ECCE 2023/2024 can be found on the ECCE Documents page.
Please see the below guides available in the Help & Support section of the Early Years Hive for guidance:
Once the above tasks are complete, you are now ready to activate the funding agreement for ECCE 2023/2024. The funding agreement is available on the Programmes page. You can find a guide and a training video on activating an ECCE funding agreement in the Help & Support section of the Early Years Hive HERE.
Child registration for ECCE 2023/2024 will be available from 3 July 2023 on the Early Years Hive.
AIM Level 1
The application process for AIM Level 1 opens in August of each year and remains open throughout the programme year. Applications must be submitted for each programme call for services with new and existing Inclusion Coordinators (INCOs). Only applications submitted prior to the end of October will eligible to be approved for funding, backdated to the programme start date. Any applications submitted after this date, the funding will commence from the Monday following approval of the application. Applicant guidelines can be found HERE.
NCS
The Policy Guidelines for NCS can be found on the NCS Documents page.
Please see the below guides available in the Help & Support section of the Early Years Hive for guidance:
Once you complete the above tasks, you are now ready to activate the NCS Funding Agreement for NCS 2023/2024. The funding agreement is available on the Programmes page. You can find a guide on activating an NCS Funding Agreement in the Help & Support section of the Early Years Hive HERE.
You must activate the NCS 2023/2024 Funding Agreement before the current year’s agreement ends on 20 August 2023. This is to ensure continued participation in the scheme as claims on NCS CHICKs will be registered across both programme years. On the run up to this date, you will be prompted to activate the NCS 2023/2024 Funding Agreement during your weekly NCS Returns on the Early Years Hive if you have not done so.
NCS CHICKs can be registered on the Early Years Hive on the NCS Registration page at any point during the programme year.
CCSP Saver Programme
The programme rules for CCSP Saver Programme 2023/2024 can be found on the CCSP Saver Programme Documents page.
Please see the below guides available in the Help & Support section of the Early Years Hive for guidance:
Full list of CCSP Saver Programme readiness tasks
How to create a CCSP Saver Programme 2023/2024 service calendar
Once the above tasks are complete, you are now ready to activate the 2023/2024 CCSP Saver Programme Funding Agreement. The funding agreement is available on the Programmes page. You can find a guide on activating a CCSP Funding Agreement in the Help & Support section of the Early Years Hive HERE.
Child registration for the CCSP Saver Programme 2023/2024 will be available from 7 August 2023 on the Early Years Hive.
Fees Lists Requirement for 2023/2024
As previously communicated, you will be able to activate a programme’s funding agreement without having to first submit a fees list for the 2023/2024 programme year. Fees lists for ECCE, NCS and the CCSP Saver Programme will be available for services to submit prior to the 2023/2024 programme year beginning. It is important to note that it will still be a requirement to upload a fees list. Information on submitting 2023/2024 fees on the Early Years Hive will be communicated at a later date.
Tusla Registration
Service providers must provide a valid Tusla registration number on the Early Years Hive for each care type offered. i.e., if you offer School Aged Childcare (SAC), you must provide a valid SAC registration number and if you offer Early Learning and Care (ELC), you must provide a valid ELC registration number.
All service providers must have accurate declarations of the care types they provide and the corresponding Tusla registration numbers submitted in order to complete a programme activation for 2023/2024 programme calls. If the Tusla registration numbers displayed on the Certify Tusla Number page of the programme application are inaccurate, there is one missing, or the numbers do not match the care type declarations, you must correct and/or submit them on the Tusla Registration Maintenance page before you can complete the programme activation.
Childminders are only required to provide one Tusla registration number.
See here for a how-to training video on the recent changes to managing Tusla registrations on the Early Years Hive.
Support
Should you have any queries in relation to programme readiness, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC) by raising a Request on the Early Years Hive selecting the relevant programme and the request type from the available dropdowns. Or alternatively you can contact the EYPC by phone on 01 511 7222.
Best regards,
The Early Years Team
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