Providers

Information for Providers

National Childcare Scheme (NCS)

THE NCS provides financial support to help with childcare costs. There are two types of subsidies available under the National Childcare Scheme.

Universal subsidies are available to all families with children between 24 weeks and 15 years of age. This subsidy which is not means tested and provides €2.14 per hour for a maximum of 45 hours towards the cost of a registered childcare place.

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

For more information on the types of subsidy, details on how to apply and to search for a childcare service please follow this link https://earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/downloads/

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://earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/downloads/

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 link https://aim.gov.ie/providers/

Tusla

Tusla is the statutory agency responsible for the registration and inspection of childminders, early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) services who fall within Early Years and School Age Childcare regulations.

For information and resources on Change in Circumstances applications, notifiable incidents, Feedback and Concern, the register of Early Years services and published inspection reports, the Quality & Regulatory Framework (QRF), the QRF eLearning programme, the inspectorate’s Questions and Answer document, webinars and various other guidance documents and publications, please follow this link for ELC services https://www.tusla.ie/services/preschool-services/early-years-providers/

To find information about the registration and inspection of your SAC service please follow this link https://www.tusla.ie/services/family-community-support/school-age-services/

Setting up a new service

The steps and details of relevant agencies that will assist you in making informed decisions when setting up an Early Learning and Care (ELC) / School Age Childcare (SAC) service can be found at the link below. CCLPL is available to provide support in the setting up process and go through the necessary steps in opening an Early Learning Care (ELC) / School Age Childcare (SAC) Service. Phone 051 295045 or email [email protected] to make an appointment.

https://myccc.ie/setting-up-a-childcare-service

For information on planning requirements please follow this link https://www.waterfordcouncil.ie/departments/planning/index.htm (Waterford City & County Council Planning)

For information on the location of existing services please follow this link https://maps.pobal.ie/WebApps/ChildcareFacilities/index.html (Pobal Maps)

Child Safeguarding

The Children First Act 2015 places obligations on organisations which provide services to children and young people to be alert to the possibility that children with whom they are in contact with may be suffering from abuse or neglect. Tusla the Child and Family Agency has a primary responsibility to promote the safety and well-being of children. An Garda Síochána also have statutory responsibilities for the safety and welfare of children. For information on reporting a concern please follow this link https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/report-a-concern/

Here is the link to the newly published Child Safeguarding Resource Document from the National Child Safeguarding Programme http://childsafeguardingelc.ie/resources-publications/.

It contains guidance on:
• Developing a Child Safeguarding Statement
• Safeguarding Policy and Procedures
• Guidance for ELC and SAC services

More resources and publications related to Safeguarding can be found at http://childsafeguardingelc.ie/resources-publications/

Here is the link to Túsla E-Learning for all staff who require: https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-e-learning-programme/

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 link 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. Please follow this link for more information www.first5.gov.ie

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. For more information, please follow this link https://first5.gov.ie/parents/pre-school-at-home

Better Start

Better Start promotes quality and inclusion in Early Learning and Care (ELC) settings for children from birth to six years of age in Ireland. For information about the training and mentoring supports available to ELC services please follow this link https://www.betterstart.ie/for-elc/

Pobal

Pobal administer the NCS and ECCE programme on behalf of the Department of Children Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth (DCEDIY) through the Early Years Hive Portal https://earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/

Service providers can contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC) by logging a ‘Request’ on the Early Years Hive or by emailing [email protected].
The EYPC is open from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.

Department of Children Equality, Disability, Integration &
Youth (DCEDIY)

Under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2021, all staff working directly with children in a pre-school service must hold at least a Level 5 major award in childcare on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or equivalent as deemed by DCEDIY.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has published a list of qualifications that meet the regulatory requirements for working in the Early Years sector in Ireland. Please follow this link for more information https://www.gov.ie/en/service/000073-recognition-of-an-early-years-qualification/