As you may be aware Minister O’Gorman has just launched 2 new reports that have been accepted by Government. The new reports are:
• Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (2022 – 2028)
• Report of The Expert Group on a new funding model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC)
Whilst the National Action Plan for Childminding (NAPC) with its Steering and Advisory Groups remains the primary focus for the childminding sector, the 2 newly launched reports will inform the NAPC process.
There is a lot of information to take in. The Report on Nurturing Skills has more current relevance for most childminders than the New Funding Model Report, and may be a good place to start. However, it is important to note that the proposed NAPC regulatory reform, will support all registered childminders with access to the new funding model, supporting their sustainability and ensuring quality, affordable childcare options for parents.
Childminding Ireland will be reviewing the Reports and will create a summary document; however, we are including a link below so that you may also read the full document.
Please see below for links to the Press Releases and for the access to full Reports and a DCEDIY Webinar that covers both new Reports.
Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (2022 – 2028)
The Minister’s foreword includes these extracts:
“Through the new and enhanced supports it makes available, I am confident that this plan will be a turning point in the professional development of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) workforce and also in the recognition of the profession’s importance in supporting children’s development, learning and care.
This Workforce Plan is fundamental to meeting the ambitions of First 5 – the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, including Nurturing Skills 4 the First 5 commitments to a graduate-led workforce, a national programme of CPD opportunities, the introduction of minimum qualifications for SAC and for childminding, and leadership development opportunities”
Links:
Press Release
Joint Webinar
Nurturing Skills Full Report
Partnership for the Public Good, A New Funding Model for the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Sector, 2022-2028
The Minister’s Press Release includes these extracts:
“..major reforms to the funding model for early learning and childcare services. The changes will see services increasingly publicly funded and publicly managed, delivering a service for the public good, through a partnership between the State and providers.
• A new additional funding stream for the sector, Core Funding, to support quality of provision, improved pay and conditions for staff, management of parental fees and sustainability of services
• Continued provision of the universal Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) with enhancements
• An expanded role for the State in managing and supporting supply, quality, accessibility, and affordability
The Expert Group’s vision is that the sector is increasingly publicly funded and publicly managed, delivering a service for the public good, through a partnership between the State and providers, to the benefit of children, parents, practitioners, and society overall. The new funding model is intended, over time, to deliver transformational change including quality improvements to services, better pay and conditions for staff, tackling disadvantage, improved affordability for parents, better management of supply to meet demand, and support for provider sustainability. The new funding model can be applied to small and large service providers of both early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC), to voluntary providers, sole traders, and for-profit chains, to existing and new providers.”
Links:
Press Release
Link to Dedicated Website on the Funding Model
i) Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (2022 -2028) Pages 4 and 5