Below is an update on the National Action Plan for Childminding (NAPC).
We are also taking the opportunity of this quarter’s e-newsletter to give you an update on some of the activities taking place in the Early Years Sector at the moment. We have included some links to the DECDIY’s plans to further support parents and children, and also a link to research on the ‘State of the Nation’s Children’ for your information. There is also a link to information for Ukrainian families and those working with them.
National Action Plan for Childminding (NAPC)
The following Advisory Bodies have now been formed and work has started:
1. Training and Support Advisory Group are working on the development of a Foundation Training Programme, a Quality Development Programme, and the design of staffed local childminding networks.
The Training and Support Advisory Group is made up of the following members (with one representative per organisation unless otherwise stated):
o DCEDIY, National Childminding Coordinator (Chairperson)
o Relevant officials, in relation to both childminding and training
o Three childminders, to be appointed following a nomination process
o Childminding Ireland –a working childminding Member nominated
o QQI
o Childcare Committees Ireland
o Childminding Development Officers (one representative)
o Better Start
o External expert with experience of development of / research on staffed local childminding networks
2. Stakeholder Engagement, Consultation and Communications Advisory Group are working on developing a stakeholder engagement, consultation, and communications strategy for the Action Plan, including communication of reform measures.
The Stakeholder Engagement, Consultation and Communications Advisory Group is made up of the following members (with one representative per organisation unless otherwise stated):
o DECDIY, National Childminding Coordinator (Chairperson)
o Relevant officials, in relation to childminding, stakeholder engagement, consultation and communication
o Three childminders, to be appointed following a nomination process (detailed below)
o Childminding Ireland –a working childminding Member nominated
o National Parents Council Primary
o Childcare Committees Ireland
o Childminding Development Officers (one representative)
o Nanny/Au Pair Agency
o External expert with experience of communications, engagement and consultation with hard-to-reach groups
The remaining Advisory Bodies are in the process of being set up:
3. Regulation and Inspection Advisory Group will work on the content of childminder specific regulations, including implications of the home environment.
The Regulation and Inspection Advisory Group will be made up of the following members (with one representative per organisation unless otherwise stated):
o DECDIY to act as Chair
o Relevant officials, in relation to both childminding and legislation / regulations
o Tusla EY Inspectorate
o Tusla EY Regulatory
o DE Inspectorate
o Three childminders, to be appointed following a nomination process (detailed below)
o Childminding Ireland –a working childminding Member nominated
o Childcare Committees Ireland
o Childminding Development Officers
o Better Start
o Parent representative
o External expert with experience of regulation and inspection of childminding or other home-based settings
4. Funding and Financial Supports Advisory Group will work on funding and financial support, including review of the Learner Fund and the Childminding Development Grant.
The Funding and Financial Supports Advisory Group will be made up of the following members (with one representative per organisation unless otherwise stated):
o DCEDIY to act as Chair
o Relevant officials, in relation to both childminding and financial supports for ELC and SAC
o Department of Finance / Revenue
o Three childminders, to be appointed following a nomination process
o Childminding Ireland –a working childminding Member nominated
o Childcare Committees Ireland
o Childminding Development Officers
o Pobal
o External expert with experience of funding & financial supports to childminding
State of the Nation’s Children
The State of the Nation’s Children (SONC) report provides a comprehensive picture of our children’s lives. It presents key information on children’s health, behavioural and educational outcomes, and their relationships with their parents and their friends.
SONC provides the most up-to-date data on the National Set of Child Wellbeing indicators, and:
• charts the wellbeing of children in Ireland
• tracks changes over time
• benchmarks progress in Ireland relative to other countries
• SONC is widely used as a resource by policy makers, the research community and civil society, and aims to inform Government policy on children, young people and families.
Supporting Children and Parents
All families would benefit from support at some point in their lives. There are many useful supports available for children, young people and parents. However, the many sources of information, advice and support can be overwhelming.
Supporting Children and Parents brings together new and existing resources that children and parents may find helpful. It provides a starting point to access high-quality, trusted information and support in an easy to navigate format. To get started, click here: Supporting Children and Parents
Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parenting Support Services
Supporting Parents is a cross-government approach to ensuring:
• greater awareness of parenting support services
• greater access to parenting support services
• more inclusive parenting support services
• needs-led and evidence-informed parenting support services
What Supporting Parents will do:
Supporting Parents sets out 23 actions to allow for greater access, information and inclusion with regard to parenting support services, which includes plans to:
• promote collaborative working, cohesive planning and delivery
• review current service provision, identify service gaps and develop an agreed approach to facilitate service consistency
• develop guidelines, resources, and training to increase promotion and access to parenting support services
• consult more with parents and commission research on parenting support needs
• establish a parenting support awareness fund
• develop and deliver a three-year communications plan to support actions in the plan
• set up a cross-government network to share learning and showcase best practice across the civil and public service
How these actions will be implemented?
The structure of Supporting Parents allows for a number of groups that will oversee the implementation of all actions:
• a Programme Delivery Office, based in DCEDIY, will lead on the delivery of key actions and support the effective functioning of the other implementation structures
• the Supporting Parents Steering Group will consist of representatives from DCEDIY, the HSE, and Tusla. It will guide the delivery of parenting supports nationally and locally
• an Implementation Group chaired by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, will meet at minimum twice a year. The group will include stakeholders from the State, semi-State and community and voluntary sectors, as well as parents themselves
• a Cross-Government Parenting Support Network will be established for public and civil servants to share learning and showcase best practice
DCEDIY’s response to the situation in Ukraine
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the above link provides information on the following:
1. National Parents Council Primary Information Helpline
2. Your questions answered for displaced Ukraine nationals
3. Supports for children with disabilities to access early childhood care and education
4. A Parent’s Guide To Childcare In Ireland
5. Introductory Information on Sexual Assault Services
6. Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection: Privacy Notice
7. Ireland’s response to the situation in Ukraine
The information can be downloaded in Ukrainian and Russian.
The National Parents Council Primary are running an Information Helpline, please see below:
Are you a Ukrainian parent who has recently arrived in Ireland? Is your child pre-school or school going age? We can help you with any questions that you might have relating to your child’s education in Ireland, and we have a helpline officer that speaks Ukrainian and Russian.
You can contact the National Parents Council Primary helpline by phone or email and speak with our Ukrainian Helpline Officer: Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm
Telephone: 01 887 4473
Email: