EYES Update 12 November 2019

Early Childhood Ireland’s Early Years Employer Service (EYES) can be contacted Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, by phone on (01) 405 7103 or by email on eyes@earlychildhoodireland.ie. The EYES team is here to help with a range of issues related to the running of an early years and school aged service.  If you have a query outside of these hours, please send us an email and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

National Childcare Scheme – How to Guides

As you know, the National Childcare Scheme is due to open to registrations on the 20 November 2019. To prepare you for this, the National Childcare Scheme has developed a number of YouTube instructional videos for providers and parents. These videos will talk you through many of the aspects of the National Childcare Scheme and, if you have parents questioning you about how it works, will provide a useful ‘go-to’ information and instructional service for applicants.

Provider videos can be found here.

Parent videos can be found here.

In addition to this, to explain the returns and funding processes the National Childcare Scheme has recorded two webinars. You can find these here and here. If you are unsure about any of the National Childcare Scheme aspects or processes, we would advise you to watch these. As always our EYES team is on hand to answer any queries you may have.

National Childcare Scheme – Keeping parents informed

Have you had many parents coming to your service asking about the National Childcare Scheme? If so, please direct them to the National Childcare Scheme Parent Support Centre on 01 906 8530. The team there will be happy to answer any queries the parents have and can also give parents estimates of subsidies.

Re-registration: Who do Tusla deem a competent person?

In Tusla’s A Guide to Fire and Planning Requirements for Early Years Services Re-Registration and Change of Circumstances Process document, they outline that a competent person is either:

• An architect registered with the Royal Institute of Architects Ireland.
• A building surveyor registered with the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland.
• A chartered engineer registered with Engineers Ireland.

Tusla have not outlined any exceptions to this, so the best advice from the EYES team would be to stick as closely as possible to the guidelines set by Tusla to avoid any extra work or expenses for your service.

Question: Re-registration Safe Sleep Policy requirements

Q: Do you need a Safe Sleep Policy if you are a sessional service?

A: Previously we advised that you did not need a Safe Sleep Policy if you were a sessional service completing re-registration. However, based on some feedback from members, we can report that although sessional services do not require a Safe Sleep Policy, they will require a Rest Policy. This policy should outline the provision of rest areas and the procedures for allowing children to rest should they be too tired or ill to engage in normal activities.

Do you have a question for the Early Years Employer Service team?

Please submit your question below and see it featured in upcoming EYES updates in Early Times Weekly.

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