News Blog
Keep up to date..
The latest from Donegal Childcare.
AIM Level 1 applications for existing graduates 2025/26 will open on the Early Years Hive in the coming weeks.
Please keep an eye on the announcement section on the Early Years Hive...
Thank you to all that attended our recent Programme Readiness 2025 training sessions.
For anyone who missed this training session, you can watch the pre-recorded webinar through the link provided b...
Registrations for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme 2025/2026 are now open on the Early Years Hive.
The ECCE 2025/2026 programme will commence on Monday 25 August 2025.
You ca...
This July the RSA’s Check it Fits service will be visiting County Donegal. Did you know it’s the law that all children under 150cms or 36kgs must use a child car seat appropriate t...
Dear Service Provider,
The ECCE 2024/2025 programme call will end on 11 July 2025. Please ensure all AIM applications are submitted prior to the closure of ECCE, as applications submitted after the...
Dear Colleagues
We are pleased to inform you that the updated and newly designed Aistear SÃolta Practice Guide is now live and available on the Nurturing Skills website.Â
This online resource he...
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 on t...
Dear Service Provider, 
Access & Inclusion Model (AIM) Level 7, Plus and Non-term applications open on the Early Years Hive from 9am today. A new AIM Plus and Non-term application must be submi...
This is a reminder that the application process for the Core Funding 2025/2026 programme year opened on 9 June 2025.
You can submit a Core Funding application for the 2025/2026 programme year on th...
The 2025 Registration Renewal Cycle began in March 2025
Please check your service’s registration status and update any required documentation.
You can find your registration date on ...
The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) Level 7 Plus and Non-term applications for the 2025/26 programme year will open on the Early Years Hive on 30/06/2025.
The Early Years Team will be in touch wit...
Dear Parents,
Summer can give you the perfect opportunity to spend all day with your child and we have the summer play guide for you! We know coming up with new fun ideas everyday can be difficult....
Please see links below to recently published NCCA blogs on the Principles set out in the revised Aistear publication.
Further blogs will be issued in the coming months and we encourage you to ...
Dear Parents,
Have you heard of Let’s get Ready? Well, it’s a fantastic website run by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) that has all the information that families need.
...
Dear Service Provider,
This important notice applies to Nurturing Skills Learner Fund continuing Students. These are existing students who successfully received NSLF funding for the 2024/2025 Acade...
DCCC welcome you to join us for an online Lunch and Learn Information Session, providing an overview of the New Garda Vetting Procedure for the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Aged Childcare ...
Dear Service Provider,  
An Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) Level 5 Equipment Journey Infographic is now available under the Help & Support section on the Early Years Hive.
...
Bi-weekly Hive snapshot – 16 June 2025Download
Do you know a young person (age 6–12) living with a lifelong physical health condition (like diabetes, epilepsy, spina bifida, heart conditions, juvenile arthritis, rare ...
Join the Irish Red Cross for two uplifting days filled with creativity, connection, and care, designed especially for Ukrainian families living in Donegal.
Mental Health and Well-Being Family...
Please see link below to press release on the launch by Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, and Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan of the...
Dear Principals, Early Years Managers and Practice Educators,
The Department of Early Education and Social Studies ATU Donegal is hosting a Teachmeet on Wednesday, 18th of June 2025 from ...
The application process for the Core Funding 2025/2026 programme year is now available. Before submitting a 2025/2026 Core Funding Application, Partner Services must make sure their Service Profi...
The Core Funding Quality and Inclusive Practice Plan (QIPP) Report Template 2024/2025 is now open for completion on the Core Funding Contractual Requirements Reporting System Portal, ht...
The first stage of Programme Readiness for ECCE, NCS and the CCSP Saver Programme 2025/2026 is now available for services to complete on the Early Years Hive.
Please note, Core Funding 2025/2...
Please see link below to press release issued by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality announcing the details of the new maximum fee cap for early learning and childcare services partici...
Continuing Students: existing students who successfully received NSLF funding for academic year 2024/2025 and wish to continue to receive funding for NSLF for academic year 2025/2026.
Dear Service ...
The Power of Puppets (1)Download
Please see link below to letter and information leaflet from the HSE Immunisation Department regarding the Booster injections for children who will be starting Primary School in September 2025.
Cre...
The Forge Family Resource Centre are hosting ASIST training in Pettigo Methodist Hall, 16 High Street, BT93 8BD on Monday, 23rd and Tuesday 24th June 2025.Â
The ASIST programme is a two-day intensi...
Donegal Coffee MorningDownload
Join our Team – Roscommon County Childcare Committee (Roscommon CCC) CLG acts as the localagent of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality for the local implementation of nationalchildcare...
Following on from our previous announcement, please see the Programme Readiness 2025 opening dates below:
· ECCE, CCSP and NCS: 6 June 2025
·       Core ...
Bloom press release – 17% increase in number of children availing of Government funded childcare subsidiesDownload
Please see the recent press release by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality announcing regarding the launch of the new Nurturing Skills website launched by the Depar...
Please see link below to new Guidance Document on Vetting for Students and other useful information from Tusla.
https://www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/CSR-GDE14.18_Guidance_on_Vetting_for_students_.p...
For anyone who missed the AIM Programme Readiness training session, you can watch the pre-recorded webinar at the link below.
Additionally, there are slides from the session in the resource section...
Pre-registration Training for Childminders 2025Download