Dublin City Childcare Committee

13/10/2026

13/10/2026

🍎🌞☕CHILDMINDERS! Celebrate National Childminding week from 19th-23rd October 2026! Join DCCC for:

Play, Connect & Explore: Fun for Childminders and Toddlers

Celebrate National Childminding Week with a relaxed and welcoming morning designed for childminders and toddlers. Enjoy play opportunities, stories, songs and social interaction while connecting with other childminders and building new friendships.

This is a wonderful opportunity to support children's learning through play and to recognise valuable role childminders play in the lives of children, families and communities.

Email DCCC's Childminding Development Officer [email protected] to request a booking link today!

13/10/2026

NCS refresher training invite 21 and 22 October 2026

Dear Service Provider,

You are invited to attend an NCS Refresher Training. The sessions will be held on 21 and 22 October 2026.

In this training session we will cover the following:

Introduction to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS)
NCS 2026: Updates & Changes
NCS Claims
Returns & Payments
Attendance: Records & Rules
Sponsor Referrals
NCS Service Calendars
Change of Circumstance
Reviews & Appeals
Resources
Training Webinar Registration Links:

NCS Refresher Session 1: 21 October, 2:30 pm
NCS Refresher Session 2: 22 October, 10:30 am
NCS Refresher Session 3: 22 October, 6 :30 pm
We kindly ask that questions asked on the day are kept to the topic being covered.

View full announcement on the EY Hive.

Regards,
The Early Years Team

13/10/2026

🎨🖌🌻Communication from the ELC and SAC Division

12 Oct 2026

National Children's Art Competition - Growing Up in Ireland

Dear Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare provider,

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Growing Up in Ireland study, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality is inviting children and young people aged 4-15 from across Ireland to take part in the Growing Up in Ireland National Children's Art Competition. The competition theme is "Ireland of the Future”. Young artists are encouraged to share their hopes, ideas and vision for the future through art.

Entries are welcome from children aged 4-15 years living in Ireland, with categories for ages 4-7, 8-11 and 12-15. An Additional Needs Award is also available within each age category.

There are some fantastic prizes on offer, including the opportunity for two overall winners to have their artwork permanently displayed in the Department's headquarters in Dublin. The category winners and highly commended awards in each age category will receive an art hamper packed full of supplies to inspire their next work.

The closing date for entries is 12 noon on Friday, 23 October 2026.

More information can be found on the Department's website.

12/10/2026

Join DCCC for: QIPP & Early Years Hive Practical Workshop

Dublin City Childcare Committee
Dublin 7, Dublin
Saturday, October 17 • 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Interactive workshop for new and existing ELC & SAC service providers/managers seeking support on QIPP & the EY Hive.

QIPP & Early Years Hive Practical Workshop

Dublin City Childcare Committee is facilitating an interactive workshop for new and existing ELC & SAC service providers, managers and deputy managers who would like practical support with completing the Quality and Inclusive Practice Plan (QIPP) and navigating the Early Years Hive.

Part 1: QIPP Information Session

This session will support managers to understand the Quality and Inclusive Practice Plan (QIPP) and the steps involved in developing and completing a Core Funding Quality Action Plan.

Topics include:

· Timeline and steps for developing a QIPP

· Choosing an Area of Practice

· Completing the QIPP Template

· CFCRRS Portal

· Equal Start Services

· End-of-Year Reporting

Part 2: Navigating the Early Years Hive

Get practical guidance on using the Early Years Hive, including:

· Overview and navigation of the Hive

· Hive Hacks – useful tips and shortcuts

Part 3: NCS

· National Childcare Scheme (NCS)

· NCS eligibility criteria

· Types of NCS subsidies available to parents

· Registering children on the NCS

· NCS weekly returns

· New Co-Payment functionality

Part 4: Core Funding

· Updating your service profile

· The steps involved in completing Review & Confirm

Q&A

There will be an opportunity throughout the workshop to ask questions and get practical guidance on issues you may be experiencing.

This workshop is ideal for:

· New Managers

· Existing Managers seeking a refresher

· Deputy Managers

· ELC & SAC Service Providers

Please bring your laptop with you and your Hive and CFCRRS portal login details

12/10/2026

Working on your QIPP? Better Start can help

As Early Learning and Care settings complete their Quality and Inclusive Practice Plans (QIPPs), the Better Start Quality Development Service is available to support the implementation of quality development goals identified within the plan.

Through on-site and online mentoring, Better Start Early Years Specialists work alongside settings to support reflection, quality improvement and meaningful practice development linked to their identified priorities.

If you would like mentoring support as part of your QIPP, you can apply through the Early Years Hive and select Better Start Quality Development Service as a quality development action.

Not sure if mentoring is right for your setting? You can raise a request through the Early Years Hive to speak with a member of the Better Start Quality Development Service team. We would be happy to discuss how mentoring works and explore how we can support your quality development goals.

View our short video to learn more about mentoring and how to apply through Hive.

12/10/2026

12/10/2026

There's still time to enter the GUI National Children’s Art Competition!

We’re inviting children aged 4-15 to show us their creativity through an artwork sharing their vision of an “Ireland of the Future”.

Entries must be submitted by 12pm on Friday, 23 October 2026. For competition details, including how to enter and terms and conditions, please see here: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/campaigns/art-competition-2026/

09/10/2026

This is "What is the role of the early years educator in embedding sustainability in daily practice?" by Better Start on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

09/10/2026