In this Issue - 7th December 2020

7th December 2020        Roscommon CCC Weekly Newsletter for childcare services in
                         County Roscommon

             In this Issue

             Roscommon CCC updates
             Pobal updates
             Ask the Team

Roscommon CCC Update

In this week's bulletin you will find the most recent announcements from DCYA and the PIP Portal.
Please note the information in these bulletins is based on official communications from DCYA and Pobal as well as
notices on PIP. However, information is subject to change from week to week so please check our most recent bulletin
for the most up to date information. Don’t forget this bulletin should not replace checking PIP - it is merely a reminder
of important deadlines and information.

Review of the operating system for early learning and care and school-age childcare.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has begun a review of the operating
system for early learning and care and school-age childcare.
Click here to continue reading this announcement on Roscommon CCC website.

                                            Important Deadlines

Friday 11 December 2020 Deadline for final Phase of FAR re-reimbursement
Friday 18 December CCSP/TEC saver window reopens
Thursday 31 December 2020 Final date for expenditure under re-opening and Capital grants

First Aid Responder (FAR) Reimbursement Fund 2020
Closing date for the FINAL Phase of this fund is December 11th 2020. Click here to download
an application form.

                                            PIP Updates
 Capital Funding 2021 announcment
 The funding available for the 2021 Capital Programme is €8.3million and the priority for funding is to
 support compliance of fire-safety regulations and standards. Capital grants of between €1,000 and €10,000
will be available to contribute to the costs of remedial works required to receive a Fire Safety Certificate. This
certificate is required as part of the statutory regulation process undertaken by Tusla, the independent
 regulator of the sector. Click here for more information

NCS end of year webinar for childcare providers
Tuesday 8th December at 6pm to 7:30pm
Wednesday 9th December at 5:30pm to 7:00pm

               Update on: The National Child Safeguarding Programme; Early Learning and Care
               Click here for more information.

               Compliance Guides for Service Providers Click here for more information and to download
               the guides.

Looking for Early Learning and Care/School Aged
Childcare/ Childminding/Parent and Toddler Group
Resources?
Check out Roscommon CCC website
www.roscommonchildcare.ie

Gentle Reminder to Tusla registered ELC/SAC/
Childminding Services:
IIt is your regulatory obligation to inform Tusla if there
are any confirmed cases in your setting.

 The annual Big Start ‘Early Years Professionals Survey’ is now live.
  Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BPYZ2FL The aim of the survey is to show what working in
 Early Years is really like for educators, managers and owner managers.

Message from NB Training Services- Extension granted for First Aid Responder re-certification to
March 31st 2021
  The Pre-Hospital Care Council have given a further extension to the deadline for First Aid Responder
re- certification due to the COVID19 pandemic until the 31st March 2021. Below is a quote from PHECC
 meeting on the 12th November 2020. “Due to the recent Government restrictions, the continuing
challenges posed by Covid-19 and recent r requests from RI/ATI’s and Responders, please see
updated PHECC Council advisory information regarding FAR responder Certification. PHECC Council,
further advise that if a Responders certification has expired between March 2020 and March 31st 2021, a
Responder may complete the 2 day FAR refresher course to maintain FAR certification.” Both Tusla and
the Health & Safety Authority are also recognising First Aid Responders existing Certificates during the
COVID Pandemic. “The Health and Safety Authority acknowledge that the First Aid Regulations require
employers, based on a risk assessment, to have sufficient first aid equipment and trained first aiders in
the workplace. The regulations do not specify the training standard, duration of training and retraining and
recertification periods but the Authority will continue to recognise first aid responders existing FAR
certification during the Covid 19 pandemic while they wait to be recertified. Those first aiders can
continue to administer first aid in the workplace.” Tusla acknowledge due to the ongoing pandemic, Tusla
and Dept of Children and Youth Affairs have agreed to extend the timeframe to meet this regulatory
requirement to the end of February 2021. In addition, for those staff that
 already have FAR certification which has now expired or is due to expire – their certificates will remain
valid         until courses are up and running again. If you have any queries in relation to recertification
please do not h hesitate to contact us. If you wish to plan your Health & Safety Training requirements
for 2021, drop us an email or give us a call on 086 6060127 and we will assist you in planning training.
 Click on this link to get in contact with us.

Virtual Course: Held Via ZOOM or MS Teams at a time that suits your schedule, and with a live
instructor to answer your queries.
Face to Face: We will travel to you facility to deliver this course and tailor it to you and your staff team.
Online Course: Video led at your own pace and in your own time. Visit the news page on our website for
more details and to keep updated with any new developments. https://www.nbts.ie/news

Logue & O'Connor Training and Consultancy Ltd

  FAR (Responder Level) Theory Renewal Certificate; live webinar via Zoom.us:
 Monday 14th December 2020 - 1 day, 9.30am-3.00pm
  FAR (Responder Level) Theory Initial Certificate; live webinar via Zoom.us:
 Monday 14th & Tuesday 15th December 2020 - 2 days, 9.30am-3.00pm daily
 FAR (Responder Level) Practical; in a classroom setting:
* Wednesday 16th December 2020 - 1 day, 9.30am-3.00pm (venue Tuam, Co. Galway)
* Saturday 19th December 2020 - 1 day, 9.30am-3.00pm (venue Galway City)
 N.B.: All practical training subject to the outcome of decisions made by the Irish Government in relation to
  the current Restrictions at Level 5 in the COVID-19 pandemic. The 1 day FAR Practical is identical for
  both Initial and Renewal Certificate. It is necessary to complete the Theory before you can participate in
   the Practical.
  Please bear in mind that both Theory and Practical must be completed to obtain a PHECC FAR Certificate.
The fees of the courses:
* FAR (Initial Certification) is €295 per participant or €1,500 per group of up to 8 participants
* FAR (Renewal Certification) is €195 per participant or €995 per group of up to 8 participants
  All fees are VAT Exempt and inclusive of certification.
 50% of the fee is payable before the start of the Theory part, and the remaining 50% balance is payable
    upon completion of the Practical part.
  For more information please contact Logue & O'Connor on 087 6074456 or www.locconsult.ie/
www.facebook.com/locconsultancy or email: info@locconsult.ie/locconsultancy@gmail.com

                      Upcoming workshops for parents:

    Barnardos online safety webinars for parents
    Topics covered are:
    ■How to talk to your child about online safety
    ■Parental controls
    ■Helpful websites
    ■Cyberbullying and how to help your child
    ■How to encourage digital wellbeing
    ■Sexting
    ■Strategies gaming and screen time
    Click here for more information.

                              Fristund.is! – the amazing Icelandic Leisurecard scheme – A webinar
                              If you missed the live webinar you can watch it back here. There is some very
                              exciting news for parents in the west in this webinar!! The Western Region Drug an
                              Alcohol Task Force will be getting government funding 2021 – 2023 to pilot a
                              Leisurecard scheme.

                                           Parents support on First 5
The Let’s get Ready website has lots of resources for parents preparing their children to return
     to preschool/school. click here for further information.Supporting your child’s transition to primary school:
click here for further information. Teaching new skills to children:Click here for further information

Tulsa Home Management Advisory Service Leaflet

The Rufus handwashing campaign Click here for more information.

Roscommon County Childcare Committees remit as local agent on behalf of the Department of Children
Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth (DCDEIY) in County Roscommon is to assist parents and
 families with their childcare choices and support them in accessing the national childcare schemes.
Our team are available to meet or talk with you regarding childcare subsidies and accessing the current
childcare subsidies.
    Roscommon County Childcare Committee, Knock Road, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon
Telephone: 0949622540
Email: info@roscommonchildcare.ie
Website: www.roscommonchildcare.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roscommonchildcare/

  Roscommon CCC Resources

Roscommon CCC has uploaded a variety of useful resources for
services and parents. on our resource page on our website. Recent
resources include:
   Roscommon CCC Crawl and Learn poster. Click on the poster to
   download for free. This would be a good resource to parents and
   service providers
   Roscommon CCC policies and procedures guidelines and many
   others.
   Think abouts on re-opening your Early Learning and Care and
   School Aged Childcare Service Support from Roscommon County
   Childcare Committee CLG
   Roscommon CCC Summer Newsletter