Dec 2017 eZine

Welcome to our December eZine.  It is hard to believe that we are coming to the end of another calendar year and Christmas is nearly upon us.  This year has seen many changes in Wicklow CCC with Susan’s retirement, Eugene’s secondment to DCYA and two new members Adrienne and Lorraine joining the CCC team.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Board for their continued support and input and also Adrienne, Jane, Judy, Lorraine and Marie for all their hard work and commitment during a very busy and at times uncertain year.    It has been busy on many fronts with the introduction of the Affordable Childcare Scheme, Capital funding for early years and school age services, delivery of 10 Diversity and Equality training programmes.   We also delivered and organised our usual training courses – Child Protection, Aistear/Siolta workshops, Speech and Language workshops and AIM information sessions.  We recently held our annual Childcare Professionals Day which was the biggest ever with 125 people in attendance, which is a testimony to the commitment that early years educators have to continued professional development.  On behalf of the Board and staff of Wicklow CCC I would like to thank you all for your continued support and co-operation and wish you all a Happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Many thanks,

Assumpta O'Neill, Acting Manager, WCCC

Wicklow County Childcare Committee held their annual conference in The Glenview Hotel, Glen of the Downs on Saturday 25th November with 125 early years educators in attendance. The theme of the conference was Building Relationships to Foster Positive Behaviour which looked at various strategies to promote/support/facilitate positive behaviour in early years and school age settings. The keynote speaker was Dr Dorothy Armstrong who has a wide range of expertise working with children with Aspergers, Autism, Dyspraxia, and ADHD. Other workshops on the day included conflict resolution, working with children with autism, play therapy, mindfulness and yoga.

Wicklow County Childcare Committee, Acting Manager, Assumpta O’Neill highlighted the dedication of the educators who attended the event and their commitment to the early years sector. For further information on the event or to find out about future events please contact info@wccc.ie or phone 0404 64455.

Photo courtesy of Wicklow Times.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is delighted to announce that there will be an Early Years and a School Age Childcare Capital Programme in 2018.  The purpose of this announcement is to alert childcare services about the upcoming programme and give time to prepare to apply for the grants.

Strands

This year’s programme call will consist of 5 Strands.

• Strand 1:  Expansion of an existing facility or creation of a new facility (Early Years)
• Strand 2:  Essential building maintenance (Early Years, community services only)
• Strand 3:  Creation of new natural outdoor play area (Early Years)
• Strand 4: The expansion of an existing facility or creation of a new facility (School Age Childcare)
• Strand 5:  Essential building maintenance & quality improvement (School Age Childcare, community services only)

Services can apply for all strands for which they are eligible.

Timelines

Please note that in 2018, Early Years and School Age Childcare Capital schemes will run concurrently.
It is hoped to open applications early in 2018 to allow for appraisal, decision-making and contracting to take place in advance of the summer.

Further information on 2018 Capital programmes will be available in December and full application guidelines will follow early in 2018.

For more information see PIP announcements.

DCYA Press Release 6/12/17

Following queries around the specifics of the discontinuation of the overage exemption for children with disabilities, DCYA have announced that parents of children with disabilities will now be consulted on proposed changes to overage exemption’ in free pre-school, according to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone.

Minister Zappone says while the proposals were intended to ensure optimal outcomes for children with a disability could be achieved, she has also been contacted by many parents concerned about the impact of the changes.

The Minister says these concerns deserve careful consideration – and while the consultation takes place the proposals for children with disabilities which were due to start in September 2018 will be paused.

For the full press release see http://bit.ly/2AX3lKW

Please find details below of the ECCE Payments schedule and an update on registrations over Christmas.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Payments made on a Friday will cover registrations, Higher Capitation, and AIM Level 1 (LINC) allocations approved by close of business on the previous Monday.
• Services will be paid in accordance with submitted service calendars therefore non-payable weeks should be taken into consideration.
• Following discussions with the DCYA it has been agreed to allow early registration for the January intake - Children being registered from 1st January can be entered on the system from  Monday 18th December (14 days in advance of start date).

If you have any queries please contact Pobal Online Support on 01-5117122, or Wicklow County Childcare Committee.

There are new legal obligations for early years service providers in the area of child protection and welfare.

Mandatory reporting of child abuse concerns and the requirement to publish a Child Safeguarding Statement are about to become law. From December 11, 2017, when the Children First Act 2015 is fully commenced, there will be new legal requirements in the area of child protection for professionals and services with a key role in the lives of children and families. Early Years services and the people who work in them will have new legal obligations under the act.

On December 11, 2017

• Mandated Persons acquire new legal obligations to report child abuse concerns
• Relevant services are required to have a Child Safeguarding Statement – but have 3 months to comply
• Revised Children First Guidance & other support documentation comes into operation.

On March 11, 2018

Relevant services have until this date to publish their Child Safeguarding Statement

Mandated Persons:

Mandated persons are people who have contact with children and families and who, because of their qualifications, training and/or employment role, are in a key position to help protect children from harm. All persons carrying on or running a registered pre-school service and all who are employed in them as childcare staff are Mandated Persons. Mandated Persons will have a legal obligation to report child protection concerns over a certain threshold to Tusla.

You are a mandated person if you are:

•  A person carrying on a pre-school service within the meaning of Part VIIA of the Child Care Act 1991.
•  A childcare staff member employed in a pre-school service within the meaning of Part VIIA of the Child Care Act 1991

More information

• The Early Years Child Protection Programme will run regional briefing sessions in early 2018 on the new requirements.
• Tusla have launched an e-learning programme, Introduction to Children First, an interactive course that provides introductory information on the new legal requirements and it recommended that all staff and providers of early years services complete it. It can be accessed at www.tusla.ie
• Children First Guidance and a number of other useful resources can be found at www.tusla.ie

Further information is on our website www.wccc.ie and www.tusla.ie

Survey Invitation - Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Draft Quality and Regulatory Framework (QRF)

The Early Year’s Inspectorate is now inviting all interested parties to give their feedback on this draft of the QRF. The purpose of this consultation is;

a) to provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to give their views
b) to understand any potential concerns or challenges emerging
c) to identify potential training and other needs arising.

Please click on the link below for more information and an invitation to participate and give feedback via an online survey on the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate Draft Quality and Regulatory Framework (QRF). The consultation survey is also available through this link.

The consultation is open from 30th November to the 15th of January 2018.

http://bit.ly/2BF4XGt

WCCC are currently planning our training and workshops for 2018.  Details will be sent to services early January.  If you have any suggestions please contact judy@wccc.ie