Parent Resources
Childcare Funding Programmes
National Childcare Scheme NCS
Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE)
Access & Inclusion Model (AIM)
For information on why you might choose a Childminder follow the link below.
Child Protection and Welfare
If you have any Child Protection and Welfare concerns for your children in their Early Years setting, please refer to the National Child Safeguarding Programmes page here. Here, you will find a section specifically allocated to Parents that will support you with your questions around how best to address any child welfare concerns that you may have.
TUSLA, Child and Family Agency also have information on Child Protection and Welfare that is relevant for parents. This can be found here.
The National Child Safeguarding team launched a new website in October 2020 with the most up to date information and resources for Early and Care and School Aged Childcare Providers with respect to safeguarding Children. This website has plentiful information for Parents, Early Years Practitioners, training information, quality assurance in terms of practice and so forth. The website can be accessed here.
Useful Links for Child Protection & Welfare:
Setting up a Parent and Toddler Group
Do you run a Parent and Toddler Group or Are you interested in setting up a Parent and Toddler group up in your area?
Website links for parents
National Childcare Scheme
The National Childcare Scheme is a landmark new Scheme for Ireland.
It is the first ever statutory entitlement to financial support for childcare. It establishes an equitable and progressive system of universal and income-related subsidies for children up to the age of 15. It also provides an innovative and user-friendly online application process to access those subsidies.
Access and Inclusion Model (AIM)
The Better Start Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
Early Childhood Ireland
Cork County Childcare Committee
The Cork County Childcare Committee was established in 2000 as part of the National Childcare Policy to: ‘reinforce, enhance and assist in the development of a co-ordinated approach to quality childcare at local level.’
Department of Education and Skills (DES)
The Department of Education and Skills is a department of the Irish state with responsibility for education and training. The mission of the Department is to facilitate individuals through learning, to achieve their full potential and contribute to Ireland’s social, cultural and economic development.
National Childhood Network (NCN)
The National Childhood Network aims to provide a forum for a range of stakeholders to work together in a collaborative and inclusive way to advance the achievement of national quality standards in Early Childhood and School Age Childcare services.
Health Service Executive (HSE)
The HSE provides all of Ireland’s public health services in hospitals and communities across the country.
St. Nicolas Montessori College Ireland
St. Nicholas Montessori College Ireland is a higher educational institution providing Montessori teaching through full-time & part-time courses, with modules available online for blended learning courses.
Better Start
Better Start Quality Development Service is a national initiative established by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) to bring an integrated national approach to developing quality in Early Years Education and Care (ECEC) for children aged from birth to six years in Ireland.
Barnardos
Barnardos is a children’s charity. They work with vulnerable children and their families in Ireland and campaign for the rights of all children. Barnardos was established in Ireland in 1962.
Tusla
The Child and Family Agency is now the dedicated State agency responsible for improving wellbeing and outcomes for children. It represents the most comprehensive reform of child protection, early intervention and family support services ever undertaken in Ireland.
Pobal
Pobal is a not-for-profit company that manages programmes on behalf of the Irish Government and the EU.They are an intermediary that works on behalf of Government to support communities and local agencies toward achieving social inclusion, reconciliation and equality. We do this by managing funding and providing resources for suitable programmes.
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY)
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY). The role of the DCEDIY is to improve the lives of children under the National Children’s Strategy and bring greater coherence to policy-making for children.
Irish Steiner Kindergarten Association
The Irish Steiner Kindergarten Association is Ireland’s national voluntary association of Steiner Waldorf childcare practitioners. Members are based throughout the 32 counties of Ireland. Associate membership is open to all who support the work of the Association.
Association of Childhood Professionals
Early years and school age care and education is a profession. To ensure that our profession is recognised, respected and valued, we need to stand together as a strong and unified voice. Membership of the Association of Childhood Professionals means that YOUR voice is represented at national level.
Childminding Ireland
Childminding Ireland, the National Association for Childminders, is the only organisation in Ireland dedicated to working for Childminding, providing information, advice and support to Childminders and parents.
