The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) provides a range of supports to enable children with a disability to meaningfully participate in the ECCE pre-school programme. Parents/carers/legal guardians and pre-school providers make AIM applications jointly, through an on-line system. Applications for the 2020/2021 pre-school year are now open. Further details here.
Today Minister Zappone announced a Temporary Childcare Scheme for Essential Health Workers due to commence on 18th May in line with Phase 1 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. The document Temporary Childcare Scheme for Essential Health Workers - FAQ V.1 contains questions and answers relevant to both parents and childcare service providers.
You may find COVID-19 illustrated explanation for children helpful in discussing the virus with your children
Please read taoiseach-covid19-statement with regard to the closure of childcare services.
Download "Code of Professional Responsibilities and Code of Ethics for Early Years Educators", a publication from the Professionalisation Sub-Group of the Early Years Forum here.
The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. Katherine Zappone today launched the Early Years Sector Profile Report 2018/2019. This annual report – the seventeenth in the series – provides a detailed overview of the early learning and care and school age childcare sector in Ireland, including the numbers of children enrolled in early learning [...]
The Draft Childminding Action Plan sets out proposals for improving access to high quality and affordable early learning and care and school-age childcare through childminding. Public consultation in the form of focus groups of childminders will take place over the coming weeks. Limerick Childcare Committee invites childminders to a consultation meeting in the Southcourt Hotel, [...]
Press release from Department of Children and Youth Affairs following Budget 2020 https://www.gov.ie/en/news/44fc52-minister-zappone-announces-a-94-million-budget-package/
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) will open for applications on 20th November 2019. To find out more about NCS, please visit https://ncs.gov.ie/home
The September bulletin from the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs can be downloaded here DCYA Early Years Bulletin September 2019