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Early Years Music Cork provides training for early childhood educators who wish to successfully incorporate music into their daily setting.

Early Years Music Cork is pleased to present a one-day engaging study workshop that will focus on the practical skills and strategies that will support early childhood educators.

Training will provide:

• sample experiences, techniques and materials illustrating the use of singing, movement, instruments and listening in early childhood
• content which is current, considered best practice and is relevant to early year’s educators

This practical workshop promises to help build confidence in participants own music-making abilities. Workshop participants will be provided with a book, an accompanying CD, access to online resources and a certificate of attendance.

This workshop is now open for booking:

Title of Workshop:                   Kodály-Inspired Music Education in the Early Years
Venue:                                     CIT Cork School of Music
Tutor:                                        Edel McDonnell
Date:                                        Saturday, February 20th 2016
Time:                                       11:00-4:00pm
Cost:                                         €70 (including Booklet, CD & online resources)

For more information and to book your place, please see www.earlyyearsmusiccork.com or email:
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Places are very limited and early booking is advised

The DCYA have advised that a refund of preschool fees can take place for parents if their child meets the criteria below.

• Eligible for ECCE in 2015- 2016 (Children born between 01/01/2012 and 30/06/2012)
• Have been in attendance & fee paying for preschool from September 2015

REGISTRATIONS MUST BE UPLOADED TO PIP BY FRIDAY 23rd OCTOBER 2015

It is advised that providers complete the registrations on PIP as soon as possible and await the next scheduled payment for ECCE programme (30/10/2015) to arrive in your account before refunds are issued to parents.

Managing an early years setting has become a daunting task. Excellent communication and leadership skills are required to deal with the needs of parents, staff, children and external agencies such as TUSLA, Pobal etc.

As a support to services Offaly CCC will organise a Management & Leadership programme for Managers and Leaders of services commencing on Monday 21st September and finishing on Monday 16th November. The programme will run out over eight weeks. The main purpose of the “Management and Leadership” Programme is to assist Managers face the challenges associated with effectively managing an early years’ service in an ever-changing, diverse and complex environment.

This programme focuses completely on the “personal development and improvement” aspects of management rather than policy and procedure implementation. The overarching purpose of the programme is to develop more confident, assertive and competent managers in the ECCE sector. Canavan & Byrne will deliver this programme in a very practical manner using real scenarios, exercises and case studies and will be highly relevant.

The programme will consist of 8 sessions x 3 hours per session under four broad topics of Leadership, Communication, Supervision and Motivation.

The programme is aimed at early years workers who have a role in leading and managing their service. The cost of the programme is €50 per participant. The programme will commence on Monday September 21st and end on Monday November 16th and will be based in Tullamore. A minimum of fifteen participants is needed for the programme to go ahead. Booking forms are available from Áine on 057 9135878.

Please see our events calendar for further details.

As the proposed September deadline approaches, Minister O'Reilly and the Department of Community & Youth Affairs has taken note of concerns expressed regarding the imposition of the minimum qualification requirement from September 2015 and has decided to postpone the minimum requirement for a period of 12 months, until September 2016. 

Parent & Toddler Group Initiative Grants 2019

PLEASE NOTE THE APPLICATION FOR THE PARENT & TODDLER GROUP INITIATIVE GRANTS FOR 2019 IS NOW CLOSED

The Parent & Toddler Grants Initiative for 2019 has been announced.

The grants scheme will run for the academic year September 2019 to June 2020. Because the grants will operate on an academic year the time frame for applications will be very tight. Applications have been sent to Parent & Toddler Group Contacts with a closing date of September 6th. Appraisals will take place on the week of 9th September and Parent & Toddler Groups will know the outcome by week of September 16th.

Parent and Toddler groups will be invited to attend a Parent and Toddler Network evening on Frdiay 27th September.  

All grant contracts must be returned by November 15th to ensure groups are paid before the end of the financial year.