National Childhood Network

04/06/2026

🎈🌍 Celebrate International Day of Play with NCN! 🌍🎈

Participating in the National Childhood Network’s “Stay and Play” session is a wonderful opportunity for Early Years, Childminders, and School Age Services to champion every child’s right to play 🧸✨

By opening your doors to families 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦, you help build strong partnerships between parents and educators while creating a warm sense of community 💛

🛝 This year’s theme is: 🌱 “Protect Play, Protect Childhood” 🌱

Play is not “just play” 💫 It supports:
🧠 Cognitive development
💪 Physical wellbeing
❤️ Social & emotional growth
🎨 Creativity & imagination
🤝 Confidence, belonging & connection

Hosting a Stay and Play session is a fantastic way to:
✨ Showcase your play-based practice
✨ Promote screen-free exploration
✨ Support lifelong learning foundations
✨ Align with Aistear, Síolta & EDI
✨ Celebrate the incredible work educators do every day 🌟

Please join NCN and celebrate the power of Play together!
📅 International Day of Play
🗓️ Thursday, 11 June 2026

💡 Each setting will receive a copy of our Non-Screen Play Tip Sheet information leaflet, featuring 31 practical play tips!🌈🧩🎨

To Register: https://ncn.ie/events/stay-play-campaign/

04/06/2026

We need your voice!

CPD Mapping Survey Closing Next Week!

Practising professionals from the Early Learning and Care (ELC), School‑Age Childcare (SAC) and Childminding sectors are reminded to complete the national CPD mapping survey commissioned by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE).

The survey explores current CPD opportunities, access and engagement across the sector and will help shape future CPD planning.

🗓 Survey closing date: 8th June 2026
🔗 Survey link:

DCDE CPD Mapping Exercise - Educators Survey https://shorturl.at/eE0kI

DCDE CPD Mapping Exercise - Providers Survey https://shorturl.at/OekKT

We encourage all eligible professionals to participate and share their experiences.

Meabhrúchán- Tionscadal léarscála náisiúnta i bhforbairt gairmiúil leanúnach ag dúnadh an tseachtain seo chugainn!.

Meabhraítear do ghairmithe cleachtacha ón cúram na luath óige (ELC), cúram leanaí in aois scoile (SAC) agus feighlíocht leanaí an suirbhé a críochnú. Molaimid go gach gairmí incháilithe páirt a ghlacadh agus a dtaithí a roinnt.

Nasc suirbhé:

Tionscadal Léarscála FGL RLMC - Suirbhé Oideoirí https://shorturl.at/eE0kI

Tionscadal Léarscála FGL RLMC – Suirbhé Soláthraí https://shorturl.at/OekKT

Dáta deiridh an tsuirbhé: 8 mhí an Mheithimh 2026.

Thanks for your cooperation/ go raibh maith agaibh as bhur comhoibriú.

Survey options Load unfinished survey You have completed 0% of this survey Caution: JavaScript ex*****on is disabled in your browser or for this website. You may not be able to answer all questions in this survey. Please, verify your browser parameters. DCDE CPD Mapping Exercise - Educators Survey T...

03/06/2026

🎈🌍 Celebrate International Day of Play with NCN! 🌍🎈

Participating in the National Childhood Network’s “Stay and Play” session is a wonderful opportunity for Early Years, Childminders, and School Age Services to champion every child’s right to play 🧸✨

By opening your doors to families 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦, you help build strong partnerships between parents and educators while creating a warm sense of community 💛

🛝 This year’s theme is: 🌱 “Protect Play, Protect Childhood” 🌱

Play is not “just play” 💫 It supports:
🧠 Cognitive development
💪 Physical wellbeing
❤️ Social & emotional growth
🎨 Creativity & imagination
🤝 Confidence, belonging & connection

Hosting a Stay and Play session is a fantastic way to:
✨ Showcase your play-based practice
✨ Promote screen-free exploration
✨ Support lifelong learning foundations
✨ Align with Aistear, Síolta & EDI
✨ Celebrate the incredible work educators do every day 🌟

Please join NCN and celebrate the power of Play together!
📅 International Day of Play
🗓️ Thursday, 11 June 2026

💡 Each setting will receive a copy of our Non-Screen Play Tip Sheet information leaflet, featuring 31 practical play tips!🌈🧩🎨

To Register: https://ncn.ie/events/stay-play-campaign/

02/06/2026

📣 Calling all Cavan Early Years, School Age Childcare, and Childminding Providers!

Free Art Pack worth €150 for settings attending Sustain the Spark CPD 🎭

Celebrate Childhood Services Week with this FREE in-person “Sustain the Spark” Creative Arts CPD Workshop.

Join artist Caoimhe O’Dwyer for an inspiring and engaging workshop designed to help educators reconnect with their creativity, explore fresh ideas, and reignite the joy of learning. 💡🎭

FREE ART PACK
Cavan/Monaghan LCYP is also offering a free art pack, with a value of €150, for educators who attend the workshop. The pack is for educators to take what they have learned during the workshop and create your own projects with your young people. There will be a limit of one pack per service. The pack includes paint, palettes, air drying clay, modelling clay, clay modelling tools, crayons, fabric markers, pastels, and a mix of other creative accessories. 💚

📍 Location: Cavan CCC Office (H12 E512)
📅 Date: Thursday, 11th June
🕖 Time: 7pm–8.30pm
💚 Cost: Free – Funded by Local Creative Youth Cavan/Monaghan

🔗 To Book: https://ncn.ie/events/

Cavan County Childcare Committee

02/06/2026

🎧 Tune in to Episode 13 of the PEACEPLUS ASPIRE podcast and hear from Aideen Bruen and Paul Gallagher on strengthening pupil voice in school life - and don’t forget to catch up on previous episodes too! 🎙️✨

Spotify: https://ow.ly/FCHQ50X4ipT
Amazon Music: https://ow.ly/UiPq50X4imq
Apple Podcasts: https://ow.ly/kLzu50X4iil
NCN PEACEPLUS ASPIRE Website: https://tinyurl.com/yjrmmayc



Special EU Programmes Body - SEUPB Education Authority

02/06/2026

This week’s episode of the Health and Wellbeing podcast is about the campaign and skin cancer prevention. We hear about the importance of skin protection and the protectives measures that can be taken to protect your skin and reduce your risk of skin cancer. Listen here: https://bit.ly/4wUh3ah

02/06/2026

💐 A very special post 💐

After nearly 25 years as a valued member of the CVSS team, it’s hard to imagine the front office without Dolores.

She has been a friend to all, always offering support, kindness and a friendly face throughout the years 🥰

While it has been difficult saying goodbye. We are so grateful for everything Dolores has given to CVSS and the countless memories she leaves behind….

Dolores, you will be truly missed but we hope this next chapter brings you time to relax, enjoy yourself and do all the things you love 🏃🏻‍♀️‍➡️

Enjoy every moment of your retirement…… and don’t be a stranger 🥰

02/06/2026

🌿 Let Me Be Outside 🌿

The “Let Me Be Outside” campaign, spearheaded by Roscommon CYPSC, highlights that Outdoor play is essential for healthy childhood development, helping children build confidence, creativity, resilience, friendships, and overall wellbeing.

🌳 Research continues to show that many children are spending less time outdoors than ever before.

🐝 Increased screen time, busy schedules, traffic concerns, and reduced access to safe green spaces are some of the contributing factors to this.

😃 By encouraging more opportunities to play, explore, and connect with nature, we can help create healthier and happier childhoods for all children.

All posters for this campaign have been developed using the words & drawings of children in County Roscommon. 👏🏼

02/06/2026

🎉 TODAY IS THE DAY! My Little Library Bag 2026 is HERE!

Every child aged 4, 5 and 6 can pick up a FREE book bag at your local public library – packed with books, a library card and resources to help them get ready for school.

Just walk in during opening hours. No appointment. No charge. Just brilliant books.



Government of Ireland

Local Government Ireland

Safefood

02/06/2026

🎉 Free Art Pack worth €150 for settings attending Sustain the Spark CPD 🎭

Celebrate Childhood Services Week with this FREE in-person “Sustain the Spark” Creative Arts CPD Workshop.

Join artist Caoimhe O’Dwyer for an inspiring and engaging workshop designed to help educators reconnect with their creativity, explore fresh ideas, and reignite the joy of learning. 💡🎭

FREE ART PACK
Cavan/Monaghan LCYP is also offering a free art pack, with a value of €150, for educators who attend the workshop. The pack is for educators to take what they have learned during the workshop and create your own projects with your young people. There will be a limit of one pack per service. The pack includes paint, palettes, air drying clay, modelling clay, clay modelling tools, crayons, fabric markers, pastels, and a mix of other creative accessories. 💚

📍 Location: Monaghan County Childcare Committee Offices (H18 RW68)
📅 Date: Thursday, 4th June
🕖 Time: 7pm–8.30pm
💚 Cost: Free – Funded by Cavan/Monaghan LCYP

🔗 To Book: https://ncn.ie/events/

Monaghan County Childcare Committee
Monaghan childminders