For the most up to date FAQ document please visit your PIP page.

Having clean hands is the best way to stop the spread of harmful germs and slow the spread of COVID-19. Remind your child to cover their mouth or use a tissue when they cough or sneeze and let's all keep cleaning those hands!

#HSEMyChild #COVID19 ... See more

Attention Parents:

Parents - every Wednesday in October National Parents Council Primary is hosting a series of free, interactive webinars with Dr Colman Noctor on parenting & supporting your child. Numbers are limited, so please register in advance online: https://bit.ly/3iZ9oBt or phone 01 8874034.
#parenting #support #letstalk ... See more

Job opportunity:

Smart Kidz Oylegate has a job opportunity for an enthusiastic and energetic childcare practitioner.

This is a morning position 3 or 5 mornings 9.30am - 12.30pm (Term Time only)

Applicants must have:

- minimum QQI level 5 in childcare

- have a passion for working with young children

- a good understanding of Aistear/Siolta

- ability to work as part of a team

Please forward your cv to eileen.b.nolan@gmail.com. Closing date for applications is 2nd October 2020. ... See more

Barnardos Library and Information Service:
Barnardos Library and Information Service focuses on issues relating to children and families. Although the library itself is located in Dublin, the library service operates on a nationwide basis to its members. How do we do this? Once signed up as a member, you can browse and access our various collections:
 2,500 Print books (reserve them and we’ll post them out to you – free of charge), to see print resources relating to early years
 eDocuments (click the view link and download).
Whether your early years service is in Dublin or Donegal, the Barnardos Library and Information Service is for you.
A Special rate for Early Years Providers/Childminders
Good news, Barnardos Library have created a special discounted membership for only €10 per annum for all Early Years Providers. To register and pay please click https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScfwYQEROMJdu8YSQ1z1mSJbB9ZqsPkHaPegN63dNhPqI3yKg/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2m0UgG_MFhJFfWLDrlaZspV9ijIzyOxw84GwChtIgTBsOa6hI__xUbMsc ... See more

Limited places available for subsidised L7 course. Please apply ASAP if interested.

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) invites you to an information webinar at 18.00 on Tuesday 22 September on two significant projects underway – the development of a Workforce Development Plan and the development of a new Funding Model for the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare. Participants will be provided with background information on these projects, an overview of progress made to date and the wide programme of stakeholder engagement and consultation that has been established to inform these projects. Full details on the webinar and how to participate can be found at https://first5.gov.ie/userfiles/files/download/e4fdbac5375c4e82.pdf ... See more

Announcement on PIP re Higher Capitation:
Higher Capitation Information Update
The DCYA and Pobal have agreed the following measures to support providers whose applications for Higher Capitation in Programme Year 2020/2021 have not yet been approved:

Higher Capitation Preliminary Payments
Preliminary Payments to ELC Providers IN RECEIPT of Higher Capitation in 2019/2020

A second preliminary payment will be made on 18th September to providers who have applied and have not yet been approved for Higher Capitation and who were in receipt of the first preliminary payment. The second preliminary payment will be for a four-week period that will take providers to 16/10/2020.
Any ELC Provider in receipt of Higher Capitation in 2019/2020 but who has not yet applied for 2020/21 and who received first preliminary payment will retain this until 16/10/2020.
All ELC Providers are encouraged to apply for HC as soon as possible.
A list of common queries is available here for your review. For any Higher Capitation application queries please contact highercap@pobal.ie
Qualifications
Proof of qualification eligibility must be submitted for each relevant staff member present in a Higher Capitation session. Prior to submitting an application, a service provider should ensure that staff members’ qualifications are eligible, by verifying these on DCYA Early Years Recognised Qualifications’ list.
If the qualification is not included on this list, the staff member should contact DCYA via email address eyqualifications@dcya.gov.ie to apply for qualification recognition.
Please see DCYA website https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/297c05-early-years-recognised-qualifications/?referrer=/cat/en/childcare/2210.htm/ for the application form and the documentation required by DCYA.
Please be advised that statements of results attached as qualification proof for staff members of Higher Capitation sessions, are only accepted when:
· QQI Level 5 and 6 qualifications are provided.

· The award is clearly confirmed

· Final results are confirmed (not provisional). If the statement of results is not clear on whether the award has been successfully completed, then further information should be requested to confirm (i.e. an official letter from the course provider). If an applicant is unable to confirm, they will have to apply for qualifications recognition. ... See more

A list of Early Years qualifications recognised for the purposes of meeting the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 and DCYA Childcare Programme Contracts.

Changes to HSE Covid-19 Assessment Testing and Management Pathway Documents
Please note that we have been advised by the HSE of some changes to their assessment testing and management pathway documents.
The changes are:
• The self-isolation period for cases of COVID-19 has now changed from 14 days to a minimum of 10 days, the last 5 of which should be free of fever
• Nasal swabs are now listed as an acceptable specimen type for use when testing children
• For the households of all patients (adults and children) with symptoms who are being tested for COVID-19, the whole household must restrict movements until the results of the test are known
• For those aged over 13 years who have some respiratory tract infection symptoms but who but do not fit the criteria for testing for COVID-19, patients are now advised to stay at home and self-isolate for a minimum of 48 hours from the resolution of symptoms. (This is a reduction from the 14 days in the previous version)
• If a child with COVID-19 cannot be isolated at home and there is an ongoing exposure risk, household contacts should restrict movements for 17 days from the onset of symptoms in the case (or date of test if the confirmed case was asymptomatic).

The updated pathways are attached, and are also available on the HPSC website at https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/algorithms/. ... See more