NCS: Midterm Updates to Service Calendar and Claims
Dear Service Provider,
As the majority of schools are closed this week due to the midterm, it may be necessary to make the following changes on the Early Years Hive:
• NCS calendar: edit your service’s opening times if they differ from your default opening times during the midterm. If your service is closed for part or all of the week, mark the closures on your calendar accordingly as well as noting whether it is a subsidised (paid) closure or not.

Please see the service calendar quick guide on the Early Years Hive for more information on your NCS service calendar.
• NCS claims: submit Non-Term hours for any eligible children attending your service who require additional hours to their regular registered hours during the midterm.
Important: Changes cannot be made to service calendar opening hours or claim hours once a return for that week has been submitted on the Early Years Hive.
We advise making any necessary changes this week to ensure there are no issues when returns are submitted and payments processed.
Early Years Team ... See more

Early Years Hive - Scheduled maintenance
Dear Service Provider,
Both the National Childcare Scheme website (NCS.gov.ie) and the Early Years Hive will be unavailable this afternoon for a maximum of three hours between 3pm-6pm due to scheduled maintenance.
During this time, the Early Years Provider Centre will have limited capacity to assist as internal systems will also be affected.
We try to keep temporary downtime such as this to a minimum, however, they are essential for the development and improvement of the Early Years Hive.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your cooperation.
Early Years Team ... See more

Novel Coronavirus Update
Please see link below for information on the novel coronavirus. It is based on the current information on this new virus. Further information on 2019-nCoV, including further links, can be found on www.hse.ie
https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/ ... See more

Bank of Ireland Payments Issue
Dear Early Years Providers,
It has been brought to Pobal’s attention that some service providers have not received payments as expected this morning Friday, 31st January 2020.
Pobal has been informed by Bank of Ireland that they had an issue with their system yesterday. This has resulted in a delay in allocating funds today.
Bank of Ireland has advised us that payments should be made today but it may take until midnight for all payments to go through. Bank of Ireland advises service providers to continue to check their accounts throughout the day.
We will continue to liaise with Bank of Ireland and will update you via PIP if further information is made available by Bank of Ireland.
Early Years Team ... See more

Safer Internet Day 2020

Information for schools and pre-school settings and parents of students/children on novel coronavirus nCoV-2019

There is an ongoing outbreak of a novel Coronavirus that has originated in Hubei Province and its Capital City, Wuhan, which has spread to several Chinese provinces and other countries. Infections have been reported in neighbouring Asian nations, but also further afield as you are aware.
The HSE HPSC is monitoring the situation and updating its website www.hpsc.ie daily at 1pm.
Coronaviruses
Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that can cause illnesses. Some of these illnesses are very mild, like the common cold, while others are more severe, like SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).
Novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV
A “novel coronavirus” means a new strain of coronavirus that has never been seen in humans before. The coronavirus recently identified in China is one of these. This new coronavirus is being named “2019–nCoV”.
Symptoms of novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV
It can take up to 14 days for the symptoms of this 2019-nCoV to appear. These symptoms include:
• Fever (temperature of 38˚C or higher)
• Cough
• Breathing difficulties
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
Treatment of novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV
There is no specific treatment for 2019-nCoV at present. But the symptoms of the virus can be treated.
Advice for student/children returning to Ireland
If the person has not come from Wuhan, Hubei province, or has not been in contact with a person with novel coronavirus, or has not attended a healthcare facility where patients with novel coronavirus are being treated, then no specific measures are needed.
No symptoms
For a person with no symptoms, there is no need for quarantine (keeping a well person separate from others) for up to 2 weeks after coming to Ireland. There are no restrictions regarding school, pre-school, work or other activities.
If within the last 14 days, your student/child has come to Ireland from Wuhan OR has been in contact with a person diagnosed with novel coronavirus OR has attended a healthcare facility where patients with novel coronavirus are being treated, you (parent or guardian) are asked to make contact with your local Department of Public Health by phone for further advice.
Has symptoms
If any symptoms develop suggestive of acute respiratory illness, during or up to 14 days after travel from Wuhan, Hubei province you should:
• Keep your student/child at home and do not go to school or pre-school.
• Seek medical attention and share your student/child’s travel history with your health care provider. Phone the doctor in advance rather than attending in person.
Phone your GP, rather than turning up in person. Make sure that, when you phone, you mention your student/child’s recent travel.
How to protect yourself from novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV
1. Wash your hands often with soap and water.
2. If you are coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Throw the used tissue away into a closed bin, and wash your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your flexed (bent) elbow.
3. Avoid close contact with anyone who you know has cold or flu symptoms.
4. Check the travel advisories from the Department of Foreign Affairs prior to arranging travel abroad.
HSE HPSC - Version 1.0 29 January 2020 ... See more

Carraig Briste/Killegney Early Years- Job Opportunity's
Are you an enthusiastic, motivated, child-focused educator?
Carraig Briste/Killegney Early Years are expanding their settings and recruiting full-time and a relief panel of educators.
We’d love to have you join our dedicated team!
Applicants must have….
*At least a FETAC level 5 in Child Care, higher levels an advantage
*Good communication skills and a team player
*At least 2 year’s experience working in a similar setting
The ideal candidate would have a love of children and a good working knowledge of Aistear and Siolta. First Aid, Manual Handling & Children First Training also preferable.
The chosen candidates will need to be flexible and adaptable in working with children of different ages from 6 months up to school age and in different rooms within our setting.
If you are interested in applying for a position, please forward your CV to carraigbriste@gmail.com by Friday 14th February. ... See more

Job Opportunity
St Brigid’s Community Playschool/Afterschool are currently recruiting for an Assistant Manager. (one Year Contract). The Childcare Assistant Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the childcare service while delivering the highest standards of care and education.
Requirements:
• Level 8 Qualification in Early Childhood Care and Education or equivalent.
• 2year experience in a supervisory role in a childcare setting
• Knowledge of Aistear and Siolta
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent leadership skills
• Have a proven track record in supervision within a high standard childcare environment.
Desirable :
o PHECC First Aid Responder Qualification
o Designated Liaison Person Training
o Clean Full / Drivers licence.
Please email your cover letter and Curriculum Vitae to the Board of Management to
communityplaygroup@eircom.net before 5pm on Friday 7th February 2020. ... See more

UPDATE
CCSP December 2019 returns
Dear Service Provider,
The CCSP December 2019 returns are now available for completion on Pobal Online.
The deadline for submitting the completed return is Tuesday 4th February, 2020. ... See more

Communications in the Childcare Sector

Tuesday 14th January 2020
Following a meeting today between the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. Katherine Zappone TD, Anna Shakespeare, CEO of Pobal, Bernard Gloster, CEO of Tusla, and Dr Harold Hislop, the Department of Education and Skills Chief Inspector, the Minister outlined a number of measures to support Childcare Providers in the short term.
These actions cover:
• Addressing the information overload from the different agencies who communicate with Providers;
• Providing a better customer service to Providers
• Ironing out early stage challenges with the new National Childcare Scheme; and
• Supporting Providers in the regulatory environment.

Speaking following the meeting, Minister Zappone said: “There has been a huge increase in investment and in capacity in the Childcare sector in the past 5 years. This is good news but I think it is fair to acknowledge that the system has been challenged in keeping up with this development of the sector. We all agree that there is a need to examine how the system supports the sector.
“This is why we have agreed a number of short-term measures which aim to reduce the burden on Providers.
“When I met the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs on 18th December, I told them that my Department, Pobal and Tusla would work together in 2020 to simplify and streamline procedures so that those in the sector are not over-burdened with administration. Today, we have examined ways that we can do this.
“We have identified ways we can work together to streamline and improve our communications and offer better supports to providers. We have agreed a number of measures which we anticipate will alleviate some of the burden on the childcare sector.
“Key measures which we have agreed today:
• The Minister will establish a National Stakeholder Consultative Forum in which the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Department of Education and Skills, Pobal and Tusla will work directly with the Early Years Sector. They will consult jointly and separately as required. The Forum will also have regional sub-groups.
• We are committed to providing clear, user friendly information for providers and parents from all agencies involved in the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC & SAC) sector;
• We will co-ordinate routine communications on advisory and support matters from all agencies, so that providers get a single monthly bulletin with information from each agency ;
• We will coordinate supports for providers to assist with Registration and Re-registration processes.”

Speaking following the meeting, Anna Shakespeare, CEO of Pobal, commented: “Pobal is committed to the provision of accessible and quality childcare to all children and families. On a daily basis, Pobal engages with parents and families in contact with the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) Parent Support Centre. Similarly, we are actively engaged with Early Learning and Care and School-Age service providers in towns and communities throughout Ireland, and through our dedicated Early Years Provider Centre. We are acutely aware of the challenges impacting the sector. As the Scheme Administrator for NCS, we have seen significant changes over the last few months and we are determined to continue to support service providers and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to implement important developments for the benefit of children, parents and families into the future.”
Speaking following the meeting, Bernard Gloster, CEO of Tusla, said: “We welcome any opportunity to improve communications within the early years’ sector, and have undertaken a number of positive changes in recent months on this front. Ultimately, the regulation of early years’ services aims to ensure that children have quality early years’ experiences in Tusla registered services. The engagement from service providers with the recent re-registration process has shown their ongoing commitment to compliance in this sector, which is vital to many aspects of Irish life for children and their parents.”
Harold Hislop, Chief Inspector of Early Years Education said: “We have developed our approach to inspection through close collaboration with practitioners and childcare professionals. We will participate enthusiastically in the Stakeholder Forum that the Minister will establish and we look forward to collaborating with its members.”
The over-riding priority of the Minister, Departments and Agencies is that children and their families and the providers that educate and take care of them remain at the heart of everything we do. ... See more