EYES update 25 January 2022

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 at eyes@earlychildhoodireland.ie. The EYES team is here to help with a range of issues related to the running of the Early Years and School Age 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.

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

Please submit your question to the Early Years Employer Service team below.

Updated Public Health Advice for the ELC and SAC Sector

Please be aware that the public health advice for the sector has recently been updated. You can find this guidance in the Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines for the ELC and SAC Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Main changes involve the use of FFP2 and surgical masks when working with children, and for close contacts. Guidance for the sector recommends that staff should wear a surgical mask indoors when in close proximity to children. A properly worn surgical mask offers better protection than cloth masks. In addition, surgical masks or FFP2 masks are recommended in certain circumstances as per the Isolation Quick Guide for Adults.

There is also a new Quick Guide for Schools/Childcare Facilities to assist in the management of cases and close contacts.

Ventilation Grant Reopened

The Ventilation Grant, which originally closed to new applications on 7 January, has been reopened with a new closing date of 31 January. Eligible expenditure for the Ventilation grant is being extended to include PPE, providing an opportunity to source high grade surgical or FFP2 masks. Providers who have already claimed a Ventilation Grant will be able to claim for PPE, the extension will not just apply to new applicants. Full details and application guidelines can be found on the Early Years Hive.

Bespoke Policy Development

Are your policies up to date? The EYES team offers a bespoke policy writing service. As part of this, we can develop tailor-made policies for your service that reflect your practice and also meet regulatory requirements. The bespoke policies can be purchased in our shop and will then be developed by one of our team members in consultation with you and your team. As required by the 2016 Regulations, Early Learning and Care services must have certain policies in place. Certain policies are also required for School Aged Childcare settings.

Policies and procedures will standardise your service’s approach to implementing best practices and ensuring compliance with the regulations.

Get in touch with the EYES team by email eyes@earlychildhoodireland.ie or call 01 405 7103 if you have any questions about policies and procedures.