Dear Service Provider,

As the new NCS programme call 2025/2026 has commenced, NCS on-site inspections will continue as previously stated. The compliance process will involve a series of standardised checks aimed at confirming adherence with programme rules, contract conditions and relevant legislation as set out by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE).

To ensure minimum disruption and expedite the compliance inspection, it is advised that services prepare for an unannounced NCS compliance inspection. We recommend that services collate relevant information for review (e.g. Parent Statements etc.) in a Compliance File which can be made readily available to the Visit Officer(s) on arrival. Access to child Attendance and Fee records must also be available on-site to enable the Visit Officer(s) to complete the compliance inspection in a reasonable timescale. In this regard we request that the person in charge on-site has access to the Compliance File / records in the event of an unannounced inspection. Please only maintain compliance related information in the Compliance File.  NB:NCS inspections require 12 months of records available and accessible for review.

We also bring your attention to a number of important NCS related reminders previously published on Hive:

• Guidance on Attendance record keeping was published on the Hive on 17/06/2024, included the following extract:

‘…it is advised that the format of the attendance records is not daily sheets, but rather that each page shows at least one week of attendance (i.e. weekly sheets/roll books). This will greatly support services when tracking attendance patterns of individual children, to assist in submitting weekly NCS Hive returns and keeping ECCE and CCSP Saver Programme registrations up to date.’

• Guidance on registering children on NCS who are in education (i.e. in school or ECCE) was published on the Hive on 28/04/2025 which included the following:

With the commencement of the NCS 2025/26 inspection cycle, the Pobal Compliance team have updated the relevant NCS compliance support documents which are available on the Hive under the Resources section. These documents are listed below and can also be accessed through this link

• NCS Compliance Checklist for Approved Providers 2025/2026
• NCS Compliance Guide for Approved Provider 2025/2026
• NCS Post Inspection Rectification Actions for Approved  Providers 2025/2026
• Accessing the NCS Compliance Report on Hive 2025/2026

Please note – these documents are only supports, intended to assist you. There is an onus on each Provider to familiarise themselves with their responsibilities under the NCS legislative and contractual conditions.

In addition, 3 webinars on the NCS Compliance process 2025/2026 are going to be scheduled for Providers on the 15 and 16 September 2025. Each webinar will cover the same content. We encourage you to take the opportunity to attend a webinar.  Following the conclusion of the webinar sessions, a recording of a session will also be made available on the Hive with the Powerpoint slides.

A further announcement will be issued in advance of ECCE/CCSP/AIM Level 1 & 7 and Core Funding compliance inspections commencing.

We want to take this opportunity to thank services in advance for your continued co-operation with compliance checks.

Regards

Pobal & DCDE Compliance Teams