Parents

Coiste Cúram Leanaí Phort Láirge is available to provide information and support to parents. Please contact CCLPL by phone 051 295045 or by email [email protected]. If you wish to advertise for a childminder please complete the form for a childminder on the jobs notice board page.

National Childcare Scheme (NCS)

THE NCS provides financial support to help you with your childcare costs.

There are two types of subsidies available to apply for under the National Childcare Scheme.

Universal subsidies are available to all families with children between 24 weeks and 15 years of age. This subsidy is not means tested and provides €1.40 per hour towards the cost of a registered childcare place for a maximum of 45 hours per week.

Income Assessed Subsidies are available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years. This subsidy is means tested and will be calculated based on your individual circumstances. Your rate will vary depending on your level of family income, your child’s age and educational stage, and the number of children in your family

Guide to the list of ELC services https://www.ncs.gov.ie/en/childcare-search/

ECCE

The Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and the programme year runs from September to June each year. For more information, please follow this link https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2459ee-early-childhood-care-and-education-programme-ecce/

AIM

The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) aspires to help all children, regardless of ability to access quality early learning and care through the ECCE programme and to create a more inclusive culture in pre-schools.

Children and pre-school staff benefit from AIM through universal supports for the early learning and care setting (ELC), and targeted supports for individual children.

For more information, please follow this https://aim.gov.ie/parents/

Childminding

National Action Plan for Childminding (NAPC) 2021-2028 is a pathway will be developed over the lifetime of the plan that sets out steps towards regulation, support and subsidies, for all paid, non-relative childminders. The Action Plan will involve change and significant benefits for childminders, children and the families using their services.

For more information please follow this https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/df207-national-action-plan-for-childminding-2021-2028/

Childminding Ireland

Childminding Ireland is the National Childminding Association and a National Voluntary Childcare Organisation. Childminding Ireland provides a range of information and supports to Parents. Parents can search for a childminder by location at this link

Parent & Toddler Group (P&TG)

Parent & Toddler groups are a great way to meet new people, break isolation, share experiences and provide an environment for babies and young children to socialise, learn and play together.

The groups normally meet in the morning for an hour or so and there are a number of Parent and Toddler groups around Waterford city and county. For a list of groups, please email [email protected]

P&T groups can advertise their group with Waterford Parent Hub https://parenthub.brillfrc.ie/events/

Coiste Cúram Leanaí Phort Láirge is available to support anyone wishing to set up a Parent and Toddler group as well as those currently running one. An information Pack is available to assist if setting up a P&T group as follows: https://www.limerickchildcare.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Your-Baby-and-Toddler-Group-Companion.pdf. Parent & Toddler Grant 2024 – please contact CCLPL for details on the grant. Applications for grant aid must be submitted by the 3rd May 2024.

Tusla

Tusla is the statutory agency responsible for the registration and inspection of some childminders who fall under the regulations, early learning and care and school age childcare services. Tusla guide to choosing an early years service https://www.tusla.ie/services/preschool-services/parents-guardians/choosing-an-early-years-service/

Department of Education & Science (DES)

The DES carry out Early Years Education Inspections (EYEI) in early learning and care services participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. To find out more about and view the EYEI service reports please follow this https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/635fad-early-years-education-inspections/

First 5

First 5 is a whole-of-Government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families. It is a ten-year plan to help make sure all children have positive early experiences and get a great start in life.

The website has a Preschool at Home Hub which provides a range of activities to support and encourage children’s interests and aims to keep them playing and learning at home. https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/5d81e-about-first5/?referrer=https://first5.gov.ie/#