Working together for Early Learning and Care

Covid-19 represents a major challenge for the early learning and care and school-age childcare sector. It changes the way we all must work. With that in mind, the Department is bringing together resources, training and advice to support you through this time.

A number of support organisations are available to service providers for advice and guidance on reopening. DCYA’s role is to provide oversight and promote coordination and consistency in the quality practice supports provided by various support organisations.

Below we highlight supports available from sector organisations, but your first point of reference for the latest information on current public health measures and financial supports available should be DCYA guidance for reopening.

Where do providers go for help?

In general providers will continue to make contact through their local City and County Childcare Committee (CCC) or associated support organisation (NVCO/Irish language organisation).

Better Start will take direct contact from providers along with recommendations for support from CCCs/NVCOs. Better Start Specialists have the capacity to facilitate potentially longer queries and requests for support.

While it is important that referrals are made where appropriate between all organisations, if an organisation can answer a provider query they should do so.

Better Start

Better Start is a Quality Development initiative of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA), collaborating with the Early Years Education Policy Unit of the Department of Education and Skills (DES).

Better Start Quality Development Service

Better Start Quality Development Service provides quality improvement supports to early learning and care settings. At present there are two strands of practice support available to settings through Better Start’s Quality Development Service:

Reopening quality practice support – a new support available to all services (up to 10 hours). Quality Development Specialists will provide remote practice supports, information and resources to early learning and care settings in relation to environments, interactions/relationships and play.
Quality mentoring/e-mentoring (up to 60 hours). Quality Development Specialists will provide quality improvement supports to service providers based on Síolta/Aistear practice guide. Mentoring supports will be provided through a mix of e-mentoring and, where and when permitted by public health guidance, limited pre-organised setting visits.

You can contact Better Start for QDS related queries at EYPC@pobal.ie , please put QDS queries in subject line.

Better Start Access and Inclusion Model (AIM)

Better Start Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) specialists will provide supports to early learning and care and school-age childcare settings and parents in relation to supports for children with disabilities. During this reopening phase (summer 2020), Better Start offers three strands of supports for children with disabilities:

Supports for early learning and care and school-age childcare settings to assist them in enabling inclusive practice and the optimal participation of a child with disability in the setting. During summer 2020, Better Start AIM advice and guidance is available to all settings and in relation to children with disabilities of any age. Supports of particular relevance to practitioners and providers are:

Information and support in relation to access and participation within settings and within daily practice,
Support to create a supportive sensory environment

Transition supports for children and parents of children with disabilities.

A range of resources and activities that will support families (parents and siblings) during this time of transitions into pre-school, back to pre-school, and between pre-school and school.

Continued support for AIM processes, including AIM Level 4 supports and applications for AIM Level 7 supports

You can contact Better Start for AIM related queries at EYPC@pobal.ie , please put AIM queries in subject line.

Childcare Committees

This section provides guidance and information on regulations for early learning and care and school-aged childcare settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs)

City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) are your first contact point for the provision of general information and support in relation to the operation of early learning and care and school-age childcare. CCCs will also signpost settings to other relevant support organisations where appropriate. Supports of particular relevance to practitioners and providers are:

Providing reopening supports such as how to implement a play-pod system and comply with public health advice.
Providing services with sustainability supports.
Assistance in accessing capital and reopening grant programmes (providers and childminders).
Providing information on funding and DCYA programmes.
Delivering training, mentoring and information on quality practice and how to meet statutory regulations.
Guidance for families on sourcing quality early learning and care and school-age childcare services.

You can find your local CCC contact details on www.myccc.ie

National Voluntary Childcare Organisation

National Voluntary Childcare Organisations (NVCOs) represent the interests of, and provide support services to early learning and care and school-age childcare service providers and parents nationwide.

Barnardos

Barnardos provides a range of supports to vulnerable children, parents and early learning and care and school-age childcare settings. Supports of particular relevance to practitioners and providers are:

Publications and resources.
E-learning (practice webinars).
Library and Information Service.

You can contact National Parent’s support line at P: 1800 910123

You can contact Barnardos at P: (01) 4530355 E: resources@barnardos.ie.

Blathú Steiner Early Childhood Association

Blathú Steiner Early Childhood Association provides support to early learning and care settings and support organisations in relation to Steiner Waldorf Education. Supports of particular relevance to practitioners and providers are::

Mentoring.
Information and advice.
Library and Information Service.
CPD/workshops for both practitioners and parents, focusing on nature and play

You can contact Blathú at P: 089 2411816 E: nc.blathu@gmail.com W: www.blathu.org

Childminding Ireland

Childminding Ireland is the National Childminding Body, supporting and promoting quality childminding in the home. Childminding Ireland offers parents, throughout Ireland, support with their childminding needs. It advises parents on how to recognise quality in a childminding setting. Supports of particular relevance to Childminders are:

Reopening practice guidance.
Information and Support for new and existing childminders.
Access to discounted childminding insurance.
Childminding specific training – including First Aid and Child Safeguarding for childminding.
Childminding helpline both during Office Hours and twice a week Out of Hours.

You can contact Childminding Ireland at P: (01) 2878466 , Email: support@childminding.ie , W: www.childminding.ie , Facebook: facebook.com/ChildmindingIreland/ , Twitter: twitter.com/ChildmindingIE

Early Childhood Ireland (ECI)

Early Childhood Ireland (ECI) provides a range of supports which include quality enhancement, publications, advocacy, training, HR supports, information for the sector. ECI is a membership organisation providing supports to both members and non-members. Supports of particular relevance to employers, practitioners and providers are:

HR supports (Early Years Employer Service).
Garda vetting and insurance provision.
E-learning .
Practice and pedagogical support
Publications and resources

You can contact ECI at P: (01) 4057100 E: info@earlychildhoodireland.ie

National Childhood Network

National Childhood Network provides a range of supports to early learning and care and school-age childcare settings. Supports of particular relevance to practitioners and providers are:

NCN Play Hub (information, resources and ideas about play).
Healthy Ireland Smart Start (Health Promotion training programme).
E-Learning .

You can contact NCN at P: 047 72469 E: info@ncn.ie.

National Parents Council Primary

National Parents Council Primary provides support to the parents of children who are attending Early Learning and Care settings and Primary school.

Transition programme and supports for parents .
Free support and information publications .
Parent consultation mechanism .
Garda vetting and insurance provision.

You can contact National Parent's helpline at 01 887 4477 E: helpline@npc.ie

You can contact NPC at P: (01) 887 4034 E: info@npc.ie W: www.npc.ie

St. Nicholas Montessori

St. Nicholas Montessori provides support to early learning and care settings and support organisations in relation to the Montessori curriculum. Supports of particular relevance to practitioners and providers are

Transition programme and supports for parents (available on the website).
Publications and resources.
Mentoring.
Garda vetting and insurance provision.
E-Learning .

You can contact St. Nicholas Montessori at E:info.teachers@smsi.ie

Irish Language Organisation

Irish Language Organisations which support early learning and care settings who operate through the medium of Irish.

Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta

Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta (CNNG) is the nationally recognised Early Years Service Provider throughout the Gaeltacht. Over 100 services are provided by CNNG with offices located in all Gaeltacht areas. CNNG provide administration, support and training services for early learning and care services through Irish.

You can contact CNNG at P: 091-595337 E:eolas@cnng.ie

Gaeloideachas

Gaeloideachas works to establish and sustain a high standard of Irish-medium education throughout the country. In relation to early learning and care, Gaeloideachas support Naíonraí outside of Gaeltacht areas. Supports of particular relevance to practitioners and providers are:

Resources and publications .
Grants.
Irish for parents.

You can contact Gaeloideachas at P: 01 8535195 E: eolas@gaeloideachas.ie