Dear Service Provider,
Equal Start Staffing Supports programme year 2025/2026 is open and will operate from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026.
Designated services will have received a previous notification from the Department within the 2024/2025 programme year. Services with a Tier 1 or Tier 2 priority designation under Equal Start will retain that designation for the Equal Start cycle which consists of a two-programme year cycle once they remain a Core Funding Partner Service for the 2025/2026 programme year.
Designated services will be required to complete the following steps to be eligible for payment under Equal Start Staffing Supports:
- Designated a Tier 1 or Tier 2 Equal Start service
- Submitted a Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement 2025/2026
- Services who submitted their original Core Funding Application Module on or before the 31 August 2025 must have an ‘Approved’ August Review and Confirm for Core Funding 2025/2026
- Services who submitted their original Core Funding Application Module on or after the 1 September 2025 must have reached an ‘Approved’ status on the original application.
Equal Start Staffing Support 2025/2026 payments will commence from the 5 September 2025 however services will be eligible for funding from the 1 September or from the week a service has submitted the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement 2025/2026 whichever is later. To view Staffing Supports allocations, please visit the Funding Tab on the Early Years Hive. Staffing Support payment schedule is also now available under the Resource section of Early Years Hive.
Equal Start Programme Rules Programme Year 2025/2026 and Equal Start Frequently Asked Questions 2025/2026 are now available on the Early Years Hive under Resources – Programme documents.
If you require any further assistance or clarification on the above, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre by raising a Service Request on the Early Years Hive.
Regards
The Early Years Team
