Kildare County Childcare Committee

21/04/2026

Deadline for new registrations & CIC applications:

Registered providers who wish to have their Tusla registrations completed or CIC applications approved for the 1st of September are advised to submit their applications by the 1st of June 2026.
Submissions are made via the new portal: https://submissions.tusla.ie/account/login
Please see the Tusla website for further information and guidance on completing the application New RegistrationsTusla - Child and Family Agency
A copy of the guide to using the new portal can be downloaded here:https://www.tusla.ie/uploads/content/EYI-GDE07.2_Tusla_Web_Portal_A_Guide_to_Making_an_Early_Years_School_Age_Change_in_Circumstances_and_or_Cessations_Application_.pdf

20/04/2026

You are warmly invited to join our upcoming Community of Professional Practice (CoPP): “Bringing the Agentic Child & the Agentic Educator to Life in Practice”

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1987492258848?aff=oddtdtcreator

📅 May 7th & May 14th

🕖 7:00 – 8:30 PM

This two-part, in-person CoPP will provide a supportive and reflective space to explore how small, meaningful changes can bring the image of the agentic child and the agentic educator—as central to the updated Aistear framework—into everyday practice. We are especially delighted to have Lorraine from Tír na nÓg, Athy as our CoPP lead. Lorraine is a key contributor to the new Aistear Síolta Practice Guide, and her setting’s journey—shared through national interviews and presentations—continues to inspire services across Ireland to lead in rights-based, child-centred practice.

The sessions will be informal, collaborative, and grounded in real practice, offering opportunities to connect, reflect, and learn together.

20/04/2026

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗿 - Recorded Webinar

This session delves into the importance of all transitions for babies, toddlers, and young children and how the updated framework, together with the Guidance for Good Practice, supports these transitions.

Early years educators will gain valuable insights to enhance their understanding of these updates following the recently updated Aistear.

The NCCA worked with preschools and primary schools to develop the Mo Scéal: Moving from Preschool to Primary templates. Mo Scéal means ‘my story’ and the templates help to tell the story of the child’s learning and development.

Watch the webinar here: https://barnardos.ie/learning-development/barnardos-training/elearning/webinar-updated-aistear/

20/04/2026

Join our Parent Peer Support Group in Newbridge Parish Centre.

A friendly and welcoming space for parents to connect, share experiences, and get support.

✨ Each session will include a guest facilitator or activity

📅 Every first Wednesday of the month

⏰ 10:00 – 11:30

All Parents and babies/toddlers are welcome

For more Information,

Contact Kateryna on 087 4784396

16/04/2026

15/04/2026

Good afternoon,

As part of the Mid-Term Review of Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare 2022–2028, the Department is seeking to engage directly with the workforce through an online focus group.

We would greatly appreciate your support in sharing the link below with your contacts and networks across the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare sector, including practitioners, educators, managers and childminders who may wish to participate.

Focus Group Details

* Date: Tuesday, 28 April

* Time: 7.00pm – 8.30pm

* Format: Online (Microsoft Teams)

The focus group provides an important opportunity for those working in the sector to:

* Share their professional experiences

* Reflect on progress to date

* Help inform priorities and actions for the next phase of the plan (2026–2028)

Participation is open to a wide mix of roles and backgrounds, and the session will take place online to support accessibility.

More information can be found here: https://www.nurturingskills.ie/news/educators-practitioners-wanted-nurturing-skills-the-workforce-plan-for-early-learning-and-care-and-school-age-childcare-2022-2028-focus-group/

Your assistance in circulating this information as widely as possible would be very valuable and will help ensure the review reflects the diversity of voices within the sector.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Kind regards, Workforce Unit

Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare Division

Department of Children, Disability and Equality

15/04/2026

📢 Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 LINC Programme

Welcomed by Minister Norma Foley, the LINC Programme continues to play a key role in supporting inclusive practice across Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) settings nationwide.

With 630 places available, this award-winning programme supports educators to develop leadership skills, strengthen inclusive cultures, and make a lasting impact for children, families and the wider community.

🔗 Read the full press release: https://lincprogramme.ie/minister-norma-foley-welcomes-opening-of-applications-for-award-winning-linc-programme-2026-2027-with-630-places-available-nationwide/

📅 Applications close Tuesday, May 12th at 2pm.

🔗 Learn more: https://lincprogramme.ie/programme-overview/
🔗 Apply now: https://lincprogramme.ie/apply-now

13/04/2026

A gentle reminder Childminders

The Childminding Development Grant Application closes on Wednesday the 15th. Be sure to get your application in by 5pm on Wednesday!

10/04/2026

Are you an ELC or SAC educator, manager or childminder looking to explore the updated Aistear?
Join KCCC in this engaging 2-session, blended workshop that will equip you to bring the updated framework into practice!

📌When?
🧩Session 1 - Thursday 23rd April at Kildare Education Centre, Kildare Town
🧩Session 2 - Thursday 29th April - online
Attendance can be counted toward a service’s QIPP.
Certificates will be awarded to all participants who have attended both sessions.

Limited spaces available here:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1984958261594?aff=oddtdtcreator
If you have any queries, please call Barbara on 045861307 or email barbara.alessandrini@kccc.ie

09/04/2026

If we can get it right for children from the start, we can get it right for society. Help shape the future of early learning and care and school-age childcare in Ireland.

Join a local consultation this April — Click the link to register: gov.ie/LetsTalkEarlyYears

09/04/2026

✨ Attention Service Providers & Early Years Educators.

This second webinar in the five part series Exploring and Understanding the Updated Aistear focuses on Aistear’s view of the early years educator as agentic, competent, confident, and reflective. It supports early years educators to explore how this image informs their everyday practice through relationships, interactions, routines and curriculum decision-making.

Using real life experiences and reflective prompts from the Aistear Síolta Practice Guide, the webinar invites participants to reflect on their own view of themselves as educators and consider how Aistear’s image is actively brought to life in daily practice.

The session begins with a brief overview on the image of the educator as set out in the updated Aistear by Mary Daly. We will then hear from Orlagh Doyle and Chloe Hickey from Carrig Briste and Killegney Early Years Service on how they bring the image of the educator to life in practice, both from a management and an educator perspective. They will explain how their image of the educator is visible across the setting where educators work collaboratively, reflect on their practice and respond with warmth and sensitivity to babies, toddlers and young children’s rights and agency.

Lorraine Farrell, National Aistear Development Officer will conclude the session with a short input on the resources available to support educators to reflect on their professional role in practice.

The webinar is suitable for early years educators working with babies, toddlers and young children across a range of early years settings.

Wednesday, April 15, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Online

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