Kildare County Childcare Committee

Are you a childminder or parent?

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) is inviting childminders and parents to share their experiences and perspectives on the implementation of the new childminding regulations.

Feedback gathered through these focus groups will help inform the ongoing review of the regulations and shape future developments in the childminding sector.

This is an opportunity to discuss how the regulations are working in practice, the supports available to childminders, any challenges or barriers to registration and compliance, and suggestions for how the system could be improved to better meet the needs of childminders, children and families.

To book your place go to 'Let's talk childminding: https://www.gov.ie/.../consultations/lets-talk-childminding/

Minister Foley announces increased childcare subsidies for 47,000 children today

Dear Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare provider,

We are writing to you to inform you of the press release issued today by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in which Minister Norma Foley announced important changes to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) which will provide increased childcare subsidies for up to 47,000 children.

You may access the press release by clicking the 'read more' button below.

Kind regards,

Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Division

Read More https://elc-sac-sector-comms.newsweaver.com/145sh3ul3o/plwjz93q3us13bb8evoje3?email=true&lang=en&a=2&p=6289144&t=2643944

✨The National Action Plan for Childminding is a pathway that has been developed that sets out steps towards regulation, support and subsidies, for all paid, non-relative childminders.

The Action Plan will involve change and significant benefits for childminders, children and families using their services.

For more information visit:https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/national-action-plan-for-childminding-2021-2028.pdf

Dear Service Provider,

📣August Review and Confirm

The August Review and Confirm window will close on 31 August 2026.

Partner Services who have submitted their original 2026/2027 Core Funding Application Module on or before 31 August must complete the August Review and Confirm to allow Core Funding payments to commence. If a Partner Service does not complete the Review and Confirm process within the required timeframe, Core Funding payments will be placed on hold until such a time as the process is completed. Failure to complete the Review and Confirm may result in a Core Funding application being declined.

Partner Services can complete Review and Confirm with two options available:

1. Review and Confirm with Changes
2. Review and Confirm without Changes

It is important to note that Partner Services who submit their original 2026/2027 Core Funding Application Module on or before 31 August, will have their Base Rate capped at their approved August Review and Confirm Base Rate value.

Therefore, Partner Services should ensure to review the grant values displayed on the Summary Funding section of the summary page and ensure all information on their application has been recorded correctly, prior to submission of their Review and Confirm. After a Partner Service clicks ‘Submit’, the application will be locked, and no further changes can be made at this time until your application is 'Approved'.

For Partner Services who submit their Core Funding application from 1 September onwards, they will not be required to complete the August Review and Confirm window, and their Base Rate will cap on the approval of their original Core Funding Application Module.

Prior to completing the August Review and Confirm, Partner Services should:

Ensure all data captured in the Service Profile is accurate and up to date for the 2026/2027 programme year.
Complete their Fee Table for Partner Services and Parent Statement for Partner Services 2026/2027.
Ensure your Core Funding Application is at status ‘Approved’. If your application is at ‘Referred back’, you must address the reason for refer back prior to completing the August Review and Confirm process.
If you have an Update Due Date populated on your most recently ‘Approved' 2026/2027 Core Funding application record prior to the date you submit your August Review and Confirm, you must action this as part of your Review and Confirm using the option of ‘Review and Confirm with Changes’ either replacing the departed staff member or reducing your capacity.

If your service requires support, additional resources are available on the Early Years Hive.

Your local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) also remain available to assist you in completing your Core Funding application record.

If you require any further assistance or clarification on any of the above, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC) by raising a Service Request.

Regards,

The Early Years Team

🔔 Calling all SAC providers and coordinators to join the inaugural meeting of the Kildare SAC Network!

Join colleagues from across the county to build relationships, share ideas and strengthen quality practice in School Age Childcare. This new professional network is for SAC owners, managers, leaders and practitioners across County Kildare.

📆 Thursday 17th September 2026

🕖 7.00pm – 8.30pm

📍 Kildare County Childcare Committee Offices

Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1993839138536?aff=oddtdtcreator

Why join?

Together we will:

● Connect with colleagues across the SAC sector

● Share practical ideas, experiences and resources

● Explore the National Quality Guidelines and SAC Regulations in practice

● Learn from one another through reflective professional dialogue

● Identify the topics that matter most to you

● Shape the future direction of the Kildare SAC Network



Our first meeting will focus on...

🤝 Getting to know one another

💬 Sharing current opportunities and challenges

📋 Identifying priority topics for future meetings

📅 Agreeing how the network will work moving forward—including meeting frequency, venues and opportunities for ongoing peer support.

📌Dear Service Provider,

You are invited to attend a training session on AIM Level 7 capitations and allocation on Thursday 3 September 2026.

The training will cover the following:

AIM Level 7 funding model overview
Service level combinations
Capitations
Allocation descriptions
AIM Level 7 confirmation process
AIM Level 7 capitation on the Early Years Hive - demonstration
Registration links:

Session 1: Thursday 3 September 2026 at 10:30am e74a282b-b8ed-4984-bf0d-8e70fe16733e@aeae5436-a997-489f-b0e1-ae283ced47f7?source=copyLinkLegacyShareLinkDialog" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e74a282b-b8ed-4984-bf0d-8e70fe16733e@aeae5436-a997-489f-b0e1-ae283ced47f7?source=copyLinkLegacyShareLinkDialog

Session 2: Thursday 3 September 2026 at 2:30pm 41fc6b89-8f97-4625-97d3-21634bdef858@aeae5436-a997-489f-b0e1-ae283ced47f7?source=copyLinkLegacyShareLinkDialog" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/41fc6b89-8f97-4625-97d3-21634bdef858@aeae5436-a997-489f-b0e1-ae283ced47f7?source=copyLinkLegacyShareLinkDialog

A recording of the training session will be made available on the Early Years Hive.

Regards,

The Early Years Team


⚠️The use of AI-based notetaking or recording tools is not permitted. This helps ensure we remain compliant with GDPR and uphold data privacy standards.

Pobal is solely responsible for the distribution of any training materials and can share these through appropriate channels. Unauthorised use of AI tools may result in removal from the session, a request for access to generated content, and its deletion.

AIM Level 7 2026/2027 payment

Dear Service Provider,

This communication explains what you need to do so your AIM Level 7 payments can be processed. The first payment will be made by 7 September 2026 and will reflect from the beginning of the 2026/2027 programme call.

For AIM Level 7 payments to be processed, the following must be in place:

The AIM Level 7 confirmation form must be submitted and approved for all year 1, year 2 and year 3 children. (This was previously called the AIM Level 7 application form).

Each AIM child must have an active ECCE and/or confirmed NCS registration in place.

A service must have completed ECCE and NCS pre-contracting steps.

Please Note: Payments cannot be made unless the AIM Level 7 confirmation form has been submitted and the child has an active ECCE and/or confirmed NCS registration.

To avoid delays, please ensure all registrations and programme information are accurate and up to date.

AIM payment schedule

As part of AIM simplification, AIM payments are now directly linked to eligible ECCE registrations and NCS claims. Therefore, from September 2026, AIM Level 7 payments will be made one week in arrears. This means payment is based on the previous week's eligible ECCE registrations and NCS claims.

To support timely payments, please ensure registrations remain active and accurate throughout the programme year.

Viewing AIM payment information on the Early Years Hive

This guide provides more information on viewing AIM Level 7 payments information on the Early Years Hive.

Training on AIM Level 7 capitations and allocations will be held on Thursday 3 September 2026. The training invitation will be issued shortly.

Contact us

If you have any queries regarding the AIM programme, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC) by raising a request on Hive using the following categories:

Programme: Select the relevant AIM Level
Request Type: Application
Request Type Detail: How To
Regards,
The Early Years Team

✨Early Years Hive performance notice

Dear Service Provider,

We are aware that some service providers may currently experience intermittent slow loading times or delays while using the Early Years Hive.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. We are actively investigating the issue and are working to restore normal performance as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work to resolve this matter.

Regards,
The Early Years Team

NCS post summer maintenance

Dear Service Provider,

As we head into the new school year, please remember to undertake the following tasks for NCS:

Update your NCS service calendar to reflect any changes to your opening hours.

Update your NCS service calendar with all planned closures, noting that all service providers have 10 allowable subsidised closures per programme year.

If you have previously ended claims ahead of an extended closure, please ensure to link in with parents/guardians and submit new claims to continue to receive funding, if necessary.

All claims must be confirmed by the parents/guardians to release funding.

Please adhere to the NCS programme rules when submitting claims. Below is a reminder of some of the rules;

School-age childcare provided after 7pm on a working day (Monday to Friday) or at any time during the weekend (Saturday and Sunday) is not eligible for NCS subsidies.

NCS subsidies cannot be claimed for hours that a child is in ECCE/school, or hours that your service is closed. Any over-claimed hours are liable to be recouped.

For further information on service calendars, please click here https://earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/how-to-guides/how-to-guides-ncs/service-calendar/.

And for information on registering a child, please see the guidance available on the Early Years Hive here https://earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/how-to-guides/how-to-guides-ncs/registrations-ncs/.

Transport time:

If your service provides transport to and/or from your service and the children are in your care during this time - transport time can be included on your NCS claim however, the claimed hours cannot exceed the opening hours of the service.

Regards,

The Early Years Team