Featured News

AIM Level 1 – Inclusion Co-ordinator (LINC) Application Process Open for ‘New Graduates’

Dear Service Provider

The application process for the increased ECCE capitation, funded by DCYA, in recognition of the leadership and mentoring role that will be delivered by the Inclusion Co-ordinator, during the 2020/2021 pre-school year is now open to new graduates.

To apply, a service provider must be or employ a graduate from the Leadership for Inclusion (LINC) in Early Years Programme who has agreed to take on the role and responsibilities of an Inclusion Co-ordinator in their pre-school setting. Applicant guidelines can be found here. Please ensure you attach all pages of the signed Inclusion Co-ordinator Declaration with your application.

Applications must be submitted electronically via the Early Years Hive system. Prior to applying for AIM Level 1, service providers must ensure that they have completed their ECCE programme readiness process.

Any application received by 31st October 2020 will be provided the additional capitation to the beginning of the programme year. Applicants are encouraged to apply early as any applications received after this date will not be backdated.

If you require any additional information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Thank you
Early Years Team

Higher Capitation Information Update

​Changes to HSE Covid-19 Assessment Testing and Management Pathway Documents

Dear Service Provider,

Please note that we have been advised by the HSE of some changes to their assessment testing and management pathway documents.

The changes are:

• The self-isolation period for cases of COVID-19 has now changed from 14 days to a minimum of 10 days, the last 5 of which should be free of fever
• Nasal swabs are now listed as an acceptable specimen type for use when testing children
• For the households of all patients (adults and children) with symptoms who are being tested for COVID-19, the whole household must restrict movements until the results of the test are know
• For those aged over 13 years who have some respiratory tract infection symptoms but who but do not fit the criteria for testing for COVID-19, patients are now advised to stay at home and self-isolate for a minimum of 48 hours from the resolution of symptoms. (This is a reduction from the 14 days in the previous version)
• If a child with COVID-19 cannot be isolated at home and there is an ongoing exposure risk, household contacts should restrict movements for 17 days from the onset of symptoms in the case (or date of test if the confirmed case was asymptomatic).

The updated pathways are attached, and are also available on the HPSC website at www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/algorithms/.
Guidance for the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) sector will be amended, as required, to reflect the changes outlined above.

Please also be aware that the Department continues to engage with the HSE and the Department of Education and Skills to ensure that the approaches to management of Covid-19 in the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) sector are aligned to that of the schools. There is currently no automatic rapid testing in place for either sector. Local public health departments will decide on a case by case basis how testing should be conducted.

Kind regards

Early Years Division.
DCYA.

The Department of Children & Youth Affairs (DCYA) will open the Learner Fund Bursary for Childminders who are registered with Tusla and hold a Level 5 or Level 6
award on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The local City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) will process and appraise the Learner Fund Childminder Bursary applications.

1. A DCYA reference number is required. If the applicant does not have a DCYA reference number, they will need to on-board through the Hive system (https://earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/). This process may take time so applicants are advised to complete as soon as possible.
2. The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be on the DCYA Early Years Recognised Qualifications list.
3. The award must be placed at level 5 or Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and achieved in the academic years 2014 to 2020 inclusive.
4. The bursary amount will be €750.
5. The qualification must be a full, major award; the bursary will not be paid in respect of partially completed awards.
6. The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be that which qualifies the person to work in the early learning and care sector.
7. Applicants may only apply once and cannot be granted the Learner Fund for a second time if they have already received it before. This includes applicants that may have received a Learner Fund grant in another round of Learner Fund in previous years where the applicant may have previously worked in a centre-based setting.
8. The applicant cannot have received any public funding in support of their completing the award relating to this application.
9. Applicants must be currently registered with Tusla.
10. Late or incomplete applications; will not be accepted.
11. Decision of the CCC is final and cannot be appealed.

Click on the link below to download the application form:

Application form for Learner Fund Bursary for Childminders

The Department of Children & Youth Affairs (DCYA) will re-open the Learner Fund Bursary to Early Learning and Care practitioners who are new graduates of a recognised Early Childhood Education and Care degree programme. The local City/County Childcare Committees (CCC) will process and appraise Learner Fund Bursary applications.

The following rules apply to the Graduate Bursary:
1. The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be either:

a. On the DCYA Early Years Recognised Qualifications list and indicated as meeting the qualification requirements for room leader – higher capitation.
Or
b. The applicant must hold a letter of eligibility to practice from DCYA which states that the qualification meets the standard for the higher capitation rate.

2. The award must be placed at level 7/8/9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and achieved in the academic years 2014 - 2020.
3. The bursary amount will be €750.
4. The qualification must be a full, major award; the bursary cannot be paid in respect of partially completed awards.
5. Letters from third level education providers which state that a partially completed award is equivalent to a full award should not be accepted.
6. The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be that which qualifies the person to work in the Early Years sector (and is at least level 7 on the NFQ).
7. Applicants may only apply once and cannot be granted the Learner Fund bursary for a second time if they have already received it before i.e. the bursary will be paid for one of the following - a level 7 OR a level 8 OR a level 9 qualification.
8. The applicant cannot have received any public funding in support of their completing the award relating to this application.
9. The bursary is available to experienced practitioners only; applicants must have been working in a Tusla registered Early Learning & Care Service prior to beginning their course.
10. Applicants must be currently working in a Tusla registered Early Learning & Care Service.
11. Staff working in standalone School Age Childcare services are not eligible to apply.
12. Application must be made by the holder of the award and not by any third party on their behalf.

Please Note:
With regard to (5) above: Only students who have registered for and successfully completed a Level 7, 8 or 9 Award are eligible. In some specific cases, students who have registered for a Level 8 Award but successfully completed and exited with a Level 7 Major Award are eligible. This is only possible in 3 colleges as follows: National College of Ireland (Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education), Cork IT (BA in Early Years Education), London Metropolitan University offered through Portobello Institute (BA [Ord] Early Childhood Studies) as they appear on the DCYA published list of qualifications. Students enrolled in these courses who are continuing with their studies are not eligible for the Graduate Bursary until they fully complete their studies.

With regard to (8) above: DCYA is aware that an increasing number of qualified practitioners choose to pursue postgraduate education to further advance their practice, but is not in a position to provide funding in respect of this. If an applicant does not have an eligible undergraduate degree, and has a post-graduate award which is not on the published list, they should apply for qualifications recognition as a priority.

Sharing of data with relevant parties: The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is committed to protecting the
rights and privacy of individuals in accordance with both European Union and Irish data protection legislation. See DCYA Privacy Notice: www.dcya.gov.ie/documents/aboutus/20180822_DCYADataPrivacyNotice.pdf

The CCC decision is final: There is no appeals process for the Graduate Bursary payment. The decision of the CCC is final for the purposes of the bursary application and process, and no delays to the timely conclusion of the process should occur. If an applicant is not approved and wants clarification on this, they can contact DCYA directly.

Application requirements:
I. Application form to be completed in full and by the deadline specified.
II. Applicants must be currently working in a Tusla registered Early Learing & Care service.
III. Supporting qualifications documentation (including photographic identification) must be provided with
the application form.
IV. In lieu of graduating certificates, transcripts from the third level education institution can be accepted.
V. The transcripts must be in document/hard copy form and endorsed by the institution; screenshots of
online student records cannot be accepted.
VI. The transcript can only be accepted if it clearly shows that the full award has been achieved.