Featured News

Dear Service Provider,  

The first stage of Programme Readiness for the 2023/2024 programme year for ECCE, NCS and the CCSP Saver programme will be available for services on the Early Years Hive at the end of May.

As part of Programme Readiness 1 for the 2023/2024 programme year, the Primary Authorised User (PAU) for each service must confirm service details and submit a 2023/2024 service calendar, before activating the Funding Agreement for each relevant programme.

Service Fees Lists for the 2023/2024 Programme Year
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 at a later stage. 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. All important Programme Readiness dates will also be added to the calendar page for your benefit.

Regards,

The Early Years Team

This year’s Home-Based Summer Programme is now available for students with complex special educational needs where the school-based Summer Programme is unavailable. 

Closing date for registration is 9 June 2023.

This year, all schools can offer a summer programme for students with complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage. 

The theme for this year’s programme is ‘Building Confidence and Connections’.

The Summer Programme is intended to be an enjoyable experience for both students and staff. The range of activities available will reflect this year’s theme and include opportunities for student-centred, play-based engagement.

This year’s programme is designed and developed to ensure supports are targeted to better assist children and young people to have access to a school based programme.

The in-class staffing for the programme is determined the profile of students participating.

The programme this year also introduces a new organiser role in schools, replacing preparation hours in previous years. This will help support schools in their planning from a much earlier stage for summer 2023.

Read the announcement - Ministers Foley and Madigan announce 2023 Summer Programme

For more information 👉 http://gov.ie/summerprogramme

Dear Service Provider,

We would like to highlight new Core Funding how-to videos recently added to the Early Years Hive, which were created based on feedback from service providers.

These videos answer the below frequently asked allocations and payments questions for Core Funding:

• What am I going to get paid for Core Funding?
• How much Core Funding have I been awarded?
• How to find a breakdown of your Core Funding Payment?

The videos are available in the ‘Core Funding how-to training videos’ dropdown on the Training Videos page. Click HERE to access the Training Videos page.

If you would like further support or clarification on the terminology used on the Funding tab on the Hive, please click HERE  for a "Funding Tab Definitions" document.

Help & Support

Should you have any queries in relation to Core Funding – Funding , please contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC) by raising a Request on Hive using the following categories:

• Programme: Core Funding
• Request type: Funding
• Request type detail: (select relevant request type)

Regards,

The Early Years Team

First ‘Baby Bundles’ to be delivered to expectant parents 
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Published on 7 May 2023

Last updated on 5 May 2023

Hundreds of expectant parents will receive a new ‘baby bundle’ in the coming days as part of a pilot announced by Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman.

The scheme - a first of its kind in Ireland - will see a ‘Little Baby Bundle’ filled with a range of useful items, including play items to encourage early communication and bonding, household items for help with safe bathing and safe sleep, as well as a range of other items to support new parents after the birth. This welcome gift, from the State for a new arrival, to a family acknowledges this very significant and special moment for parents.

300 families from the Rotunda Hospital and 150 families attending Waterford University Hospital were invited to take part in the pilot. The Baby Bundle will be delivered to the homes of participating parents at a time of their choosing. Parents participating in the pilot initiative will subsequently be asked to share their views and experiences of the Baby Bundle and its contents, which will inform the development of proposals for wider national rollout.

Welcoming rollout of the pilot, Minister Roderic O’Gorman said:

“I’m delighted to see the new Baby Bundles arrive at the doors of new parents. We have seen how well this scheme works in other jurisdictions, and through this pilot, we can get a real sense from parents of how well the scheme works. Our hope is that the bundles will be a welcome gift from the State for the new arrivals, full of the kind of practical items that parents need in those first few weeks and months."

Click here to read the press release

From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth 

Published on 4 May 2023 

Last updated on 4 May 2023

Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, together with Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy, has today, launched the Nutrition Standards for Early Learning and Care Services.

The aim of these Nutrition Standards, developed in collaboration with Healthy Ireland and the Department of Health, is to inform the development and implementation of Healthy Eating Policy and practice in Early Learning and Care Services. This is to ensure agreement on the promotion of healthy foods and drinks in main meals, snacks and celebrations in partnership with children, parents, service providers and the wider community.

These standards show the importance of the need to recognise that small children have small tummies and as a result Educators and parents need to be mindful of the portion sizes that children receive when eating. The Children’s Food Pyramid will assist families in making healthier choices for their child as it provides a range of information on the number of servings from each shelf needed at different ages. It also recognises that some children of the same age will need more food and some will need less.

Minister Naughton said:

“These standards are another step to help make the healthy choice the easier choice for everyone”.

I am confident that these standards will assist parents and Early Learning and Care Services to help children develop a healthy relationship with food which will set them up for a healthier life."

The Nutrition Standards for Early Learning and Care Service can be found here:

Nutrition Standards for Early Learning and Care Services - English
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Nutrition Standards for Early Learning and Care Services - Irish
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