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The latest from Donegal Childcare.

Dear Service Provider, The information below explains what your AIM notification means and how to understand the support approved for a child.  This part of the notification tells you which...
Dear Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Provider, Our colleagues in the Department of Health have asked us to share with you the information that the Folic Acid Public Consultation is...
2026-07-13 – Hive SnapshotDownload
Introducing Family Foods to your Baby Flyer overall posterDownload
Dear Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Provider, Water Safety Ireland has requested us to inform you that they are currently offering free educational visits to Early Learn...
Joana, Better Start’s Lead Dietitian has a reminder for services on keeping children hydrated: “Hydration is so important for children, and in warmer days we need to pay even more attention to this...
Donegal County Childcare Committee will be delivering the Pre-Registration Training for childminders on the following dates: Tuesday 18th August 2026: Online 7.00pm – 9.30pm Tuesday 25th August ...
Dear Service Provider, Registrations for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme 2026/2027 are now open on the Early Years Hive. The ECCE 2026/2027 programme will commence on Monday...
The application process for AIM Level 1 is now open for existing graduates. Applications must be submitted via the Early Years Hive. Applicant guidelines can be found here. Prior to submi...
Dear Service Provider,  We would like to remind you that NCS subsidies can only be paid once a CHICK has been registered and the parent/guardian has confirmed that all details are correct via ...
Dear Service Provider, In recent programme readiness training, a high-level overview of new co-payment functionality was presented. We’d like to share with you a further update of the upcoming chan...
The Core Funding Quality and Inclusive Practice Plan (QIPP) Report Template 2025/26 is now open on the Core Funding Contractual Requirements Reporting System Portal https://www.cfcrrs.i...
2026-06-29 – Hive SnapshotDownload
Dear Service Provider, AIM Level 1 applications for existing graduates will open on the Early Years Hive on Monday, 06 July 2026 at 10am. The AIM Level 1 application supports the increase...
Dear Service Provider, As outlined in previous communications, the level of support allocated to a child is determined following submission of their AIM Level 4 application and a further review of ...
Dear Service Provider, NCS applicants will today receive notification that from 31 August 2026, the income assessed lower threshold will increase from €26,000 to €34,000 and the upper threshold fro...
The National Severe Weather & Flooding Coordination Group met with key stakeholders this morning to review and prepare for the weather conditions that are predicted for Ireland over the next two d...
This announcement provides further information regarding the AIM application process for the 2026/2027 programme call. AIM Level 4 and Level 5 applications opened on 06 May 2026. All applications s...
Dear Provider, We would like to remind you of the important hot weather guidance that was communicated in last week’s summer eBulletin: Be Summer Weather Ready There are two helpful gui...
Applications are required to be submitted to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality by 1pm on the closing date of 31st July 2026. This will ensure that that all applicants have sufficient...
Dear Service Provider, We would like to advise service providers of a change to the 2026/2027 ECCE Calendar to give greater flexibility to ELC providers to facilitate their obligations under the te...
2026-06-15 – Hive SnapshotDownload
Dear Service Provider, Thank you to all who attended our recent Programme Readiness 2026 training sessions. For those who may have missed the training sessions, you can watch the recorded webina...
Bachelor of Science (Honours) Level 8 Part-Time Over 3 semesters from September 2026 to December 2027. Practice Placement requires applicants to be in employment in a formal ECEC service and be...
The National Childhood Network (NCN) is seeking to encourage early learning and care settings to engage with International Day of Play 2026 tomorrow, Thursday, 11 June and has asked us to share t...
Dear Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare provider, We are writing to you today to inform you of the press release just issued by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in ...
Dear Service Provider, We wish to advise that the Transfer of Ownership process for the 2025 programme call remains open. All services with AIM Level 5 equipment supporting children who are expe...
Dear Service Provider,     The application process for the Core Funding 2026/2027 programme year will open at 12pm today, Monday 8 June 2026. You can submit an original Core ...
Dear Service Provider, We are delighted to announce the process for Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) Continuous Students to confirm their eligibility for the coming academic year 2026/2027 open...
Dear Provider, Practising professionals from the Early Learning and Care (ELC), School‑Age Childcare (SAC) and Childminding sectors are reminded to complete the national CP...
On Wednesday 3 June 2026, Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley announced the details of the new maximum fee caps for early learning and childcare services participating in Core...
Dear Service Provider,  The first stage of Programme Readiness for ECCE, NCS and the CCSP Saver Programme 2026/2027 is now available for services to complete on the Early Years Hive.  ...
Please see link below to revised Bi-weekly Hive Snapshot 02-06-2026. 2026-06-02 – Hive SnapshotDownload
Dear Service Provider, Thank you to all who attended our recent Nurturing Skills Learner Fund Completing the Employment Record for Existing Students 2026 training sessions. For those who may hav...
Sligo County Childcare Committee has partnered with Sligo Local Enterprise Office to offer an online Succession Planning Workshop on Tuesday 9th June from 7pm – 10pm. This online workshop is ...
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) is currently working with Crowe Advisory Limited to support the development of a national Continuing Professional Development (CPD) mapping e...
Dear Service Provider,You are invited to attend Programme Readiness 2026 Training. The training sessions will be held on 2 and 3 June 2026.  Sessions will last for approximately 1 ho...
Join us for Shaping Tomorrow Together — a dynamic conference hosted by Sligo, Roscommon, Donegal and Mayo County Childcare Committees, supporting quality and inclusion through the NSAI framework. ...
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) is currently working with Crowe Advisory Limited to support the development of a national Continuing Professional Development (CPD)...
Dear Service Provider, The deadline for the Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2025/2026 survey has been extended to allow more time for services to complete the survey. The survey will now close at...