Issue 3 Volume 9 • September 2011

Childminding Seminar 2011

NEWSLETTER

Inside this Issue

•GovernmentScheme Update

Page 2

• Update fromLocal ChildcareResource Services

Page 8

• Childminding NewsPage 15

Welcome to Issue 3 of Dublin City Childcare Committee’s2011 Newsletter.

There is an update on the ECCE Scheme and CETS scheme, as well as Childminding news and theupcoming Childminding Seminar in November, and training opportunities from the Local ChildcareResource Service’s, plus lots more.

We would like to thank all who contributed to this newsletter.We hope you all have a lovely Autumnand if you are interested in contributing to our next newsletter, due out in December, please let usknow!

Welcome

Dublin City Childcare Committee in collaboration with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown, Fingal, SouthDublin and Wicklow County Childcare Committees is pleased to invite you to the

Childminding Seminar 2011

QUALITY CHILDMINDING FOR ALLWhen: November 5th, 2011

Time: 9:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where: Bewleys Hotel Leopardstown,Central Park, Leopardstown,Dublin 18

with guest speakers

Dr. Mary Daly, NCNA and Patricia Murray, Childminding Ireland

and a choice of workshops on the four themes of Aistear

Cost: €15 per person, including all conference materials and lunch if booked bySeptember 30th, 2011; otherwise, booking fee is €20 per person. Parking: €3 per day

Contact: DCCC at 01 873 3696 or 01 889 7123

CCS SCHEME UPDATEElectronic Returns:

� CCS electronic returns will be made to the Departmentof Children and Youth Affairs during mid October.

� Pending verification of the CCS return, Pobal will makea provisional CCS payment during September 2011based on funding levels during the September 2010 – August 2011 period. This will be a provisionalpayment to cover a 4 month period from the 1st of September 2011 to the 31st of December 2011.

� Any adjustments (upwards or downwards) to CCS funding will be calculated following verificationof the CCS return.

Fraudulent Returns:It has come to our attention that some parents maybe under the impression that they can avail of the FreePre School Year even if their child is attending primaryschool. Under the ECCE scheme, a child can onlyqualify for this scheme in the year before they attendprimary school. It is clearly stated on the ParentalDeclaration Form that the Free Pre School YearScheme is explicitly for children in the year beforeprimary school. Therefore, any parent signing such aform in respect of a child already in primary school willbe considered guilty of fraud.

Also,a childcare provider that knowingly makes such areturn in respect of a child who is not a pre school child(i.e.a child who is in primary school) will be breachingthe conditions of the scheme andmaking a fraudulentreturn and serious consideration will be given to removing the service from the scheme andrecovering monies paid.

The Parental Declaration form this year allows the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to sharechildren’s PPS numbers with the Department of Education to ensure that no child avails of bothPrimary School education and the Free Pre School Year.

Please ensure your service follows these guidelines.

Dublin City Childcare Committee

ECCE Scheme Update

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CCS Scheme

ECCE Scheme

CETS Scheme

3

ECCE Scheme Update continued

Minimum Enrolment 2012:As you are aware, the introduction of the free pre-school year is a major development in earlychildhood care and education. It is designed to give children access to a free Pre School Year ofappropriate programme based activities in the year before they start Primary School. The schemeshould be delivered within a structure which supports the best delivery of pre-school education,andterms and conditions are set out to assist in providing this structure.One of these terms and conditionsconcerns the number of children i.e.

Services must have aminimum enrolment of 8 children in their pre-school year.Subject to compliancewith all other contractual requirements, exceptions will be considered in the case of:

• services which have an enrolment of at least 8 children but for good reason,only 3 or more arein their preschool year and the remainder will be eligible for a pre-school year in the followingyear

• smaller services which are considered appropriate settings for delivery of the pre-school year but,for good reason, have an enrolment of not less than 5 children in their pre-school year.

In the start-up phase, a somewhat lenient approach has been taken by the Directorate towardsservices that might not reach these conditions (particularly when it is unclear in advance of theirreturn whether a service will meet the requirement or not) and, in some cases, it appears that anexpectation may have arisen that the exception has become the rule.

From September 2012, the terms and conditions governing the number of children in a preschoolsetting will be strictly enforced. In certain borderline circumstances, exceptions may continue to beconsidered,on a case by case basis.

Minimum Enrolment September 2011:For the coming year, September 2011, where a service isproviding preschool education to only one or two children, thiswill not be considered an appropriate setting for the deliveryof preschool education under the programme, and suchservices will not be granted entry to the scheme in September.If such cases only come to the attention of the Department ofChildren and Youth Affairs following the September return, thiswill amount to a breach of the contractual agreementbetween the Department and the provider, andarrangements will be made to see if there is an availableplace for the children involved in a compliant service.

Payments Information:Q: Will the first payment be during the week of August 22nd?

A: Yes, the advance payment will be issued the week of August 22nd.

Q: How many weeks will the first payment be for?

A: It will be for 8 wks.

Q: What will the first payment be for new ECCE providers?

A: The advance payment for new ECCE providers will be 8 weeks by 5 children by €64.50, unlessproviders stated in their application form that they will have less than 5 children, in which case itwill be reduced accordingly.

An advance estimated payment will be made to services by the end of this week. Please note that youwill be required to have gone into contract, to havesubmitted a compliant Fees Policy and also to have submitted an up-to-date Tax Clearance Certificatebefore you receive any payment under this scheme.

The electronic form used for the service return and the ECCE Service Guide will be uploaded to thewebpage www.dcya.ie/ecce. This electronic form allows the DCYA compile the data contained into a database, which is then used to verify the eligibility of the children, and to calculate the amounts payableto services.

Parents complete the Parent Declaration forms and return them to you by Wednesday 7th September atthe latest in relation to children actually attendingyour service in the snapshot week of 5th – 9th September 2011. Please ensure that they have provided their child’s PPS number (which must be 7 numbers followed by a letter, e.g.1234567A). If they donot know where to find this, it will be oncorrespondence regarding that child’s Child Benefit claim.Alternatively, they can obtain it from the Dept of SocialProtection by calling 1890-927-999.

Distribute letters and Parent Declaration forms to parents, which should be completed and returned to you by Wednesday 7th September 2011 at the latest.

ECCE snap shot week. All parent declaration forms should be completed for children attending duringthis week and returned to the service by the 7th Sept2011 deadline.

29/08/2011

29/08/2011 -05/09/2011

05/09/2011

05/09/2011 -09/09/2011

29/08/2011 -07/09/2011

29/08/2011

29/08/2011 -05/09/2011

05/09/2011

05/09/2011 -09/09/2011

29/08/2011 -07/09/2011

Please note that this schedule may be subject to some change

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Time-line for ECCE Scheme (29/08/11 - 26/08/12)

Services make their electronic returns. In most cases, thisshould take no longer than one hour. Rather than make multiple returns, you are asked not to make this return until you have received all Parent Declaration forms or by the closing date at the latest. Please ensure that all the children registered are actually attending your service (returns will be cross-referenced).Please ensure that you do not retain PPS numbers. When you have completed this electronic return, pleasecomplete and sign the Service Declaration, and sendby registered post the Service Declaration form and allParent Declaration forms to ‘ECCE e-returns’, Childcare Directorate, Department of Children & Youth Affairs,Hawkins House, Dublin 2, within 24 hours of making yourreturn, by the deadline of 14thSeptember 2011.

DO NOT include in your postal return any information inrelation to children not registered on the electronic return. Such information must be sent separately with allsupporting documentation, including a copy of the child’s birth cert, copy evidence of the child’s PPSN and also a completed New Entrant Form with a letterexplaining why the child was not included in the electronic return to ‘ECCE Late Entrant’, Childcare Directorate, Department of Children & Youth Affairs,Hawkins House, Dublin 2 by the 30th Septemberdeadline. If the form has not been received by ChildcareDirectorate by that date, the parent must pay for the child until the beginning of the next full term.

Where a parent wishes to enrol a child at a service afterthe pre-school year has started and the electronic returnhas been made, the parent must complete a New Entrant Form, and submit this directly to Childcare Directorate marked ‘ECCE Late Entrant’ wit h a copy of the child’sbirth cert and copy evidence of the child’s PPSN.Deadline for receipt of New Entrant Forms re theSeptember 2011 term is 30th September 2011.

The DCYA will forward the PPS numbers to the Dept of Social Protection, who will verify that the children submitted are of eligible age.

07/09/2011 -13/09/2011

14/09/2011 notlater than 6pm

15/09/2011

08/09/2011 -30/09/2011

07/09/2011 -13/09/2011

14/09/2011 notlater than 6pm

15/09/2011

08/09/2011 -30/09/2011

This is the deadline for receipt of the ServiceDeclaration Form and the Parent Declaration Forms.Meeting the reporting requirements of the Scheme is acontractual requirement for payment, and so failure tomeet this deadline may result in your service losingfunding.

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Time-line for ECCE Scheme (29/08/11 - 26/08/12)

Please check the ECCE Programme Guide on www.dcya.ie (under ‘Childcare’ and ‘Free Pre- SchoolYear in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)Scheme’) re late starters, transfers etc for deadlines re same. (Where a New Entrant form has been received by Childcare Directorate after the 30th Septemberdeadline, please note that capitation fees will commence from the start of the following term, andwill not be back-dated. If the child attended another service in the first term, the new service will notreceive capitation for the child in the following termunless a completed Transfer Form has been receivedby the appropriate deadline).

Childcare Directorate will inform services by email, listing the children registered by them, stating whether each iseligible or not, under the ECCE scheme. The balance ofcapitation due for the first term will then be calculatedand paid to services based on the number of qualifiedchildren. In some instances, parents may have to appealthe non-verification of their child’s PPSN (e.g. they may have provided their own PPS number) and they must do this by sending a letter of appeal – within 2 weeks of the list of qualified children issuing, along with a copy of the child’s birth certificate and a copy of officialdocumentation containing the child’s PPS number,directly to ‘E-return Appeal”, Childcare Directorate,Department of Children & Youth Affairs, HawkinsHouse, Dublin 2. Parents may show the service this evidence in advance of sending it, in order to continue availing of the free place pending a successful appeal. Ifsuch parents do not show the service this evidence, the service provider does not have to continue provision of the free place until they have been informed of asuccessful appeal.

Deadline for Transfer Forms and New Entrant Forms to bereceived by Childcare Directorate in relation to January2012.

The DCYA will again inform you by email, listing the childrenregistered, stating whether each is eligible or not, under the ECCE scheme.

08/09/2011 -30/09/2011

October

November

02/12/2011

08/09/2011 -30/09/2011

October

November

02/12/2011

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Time-line for ECCE Scheme (29/08/11 - 26/08/12)

Payments for the January-March term will be made.

Deadline for Transfer Forms and New Entrant Forms to bereceived by Childcare Directorate in relation to April 2012.

Payments for the April - June term will be made.

Deadline for Transfer Forms and New Entrant Forms to bereceived by Childcare Directorate in relation to July 2012 (only for children registered under the 50 week model).

50 week services will receive the last 8 weekscapitation for their children.

Service return for 2012/2013

06/01/2012

09/03/2012

06/04/2012

01/06/2012

06/01/2012

Sept 2012Sept 2012

09/03/2012

06/04/2012

01/06/2012

29/06/201229/06/2012

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Time-line for ECCE Scheme (29/08/11 - 26/08/12)

The CETS programme is managed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on behalf of FÁSand theVECs.There are about 2,800 places in total available under the programme.These are dividedbetween FÁS andVEC parents,with full-time,parttime and afterschool places available.The purposeof the programme is to benefit parents on eligible FÁS and VEC courses.

For September 2011, the operation of the programme is being revised.This has been done to make itmore cost-effective and more accessible to parents. The payments system is being improved alsoand more services are taking part than before.

How it will workMost of the places will be allocated throughout the year as the need arises.

A number of providers who were in the programme will get an initial allocation. All other providerswho were accepted into the programme will get no allocation to begin with, but can apply forindividual places as eligible parents seek places in their facility.

If a parent has contacted Dublin City Childcare Committee looking for a place and the CCC decidesyour service is suitable, the CCC will contact you to ask you to take a CETS child.You are entitled torefuse a place if you are unable to take the child.

CETS Checklist for Providers

1 Make sure you have a letter from the parent confirming they are entitled to CETS.The letter should be issued by FÁS or the VEC

2 The letter must state all of the following: the name of the parent, the name of theeligible course, the start date and number of weeks, confirmation that they areeligible for free childcare for CETS for this course. (The Department may stoppayment and seek repayment of monies paid out if it transpires that a providerdoes not have adequate proof that a parent is entitled to CETS.)

3 Keep a copy of the letter and contact your local County or City ChildcareCommittee (CCC) to apply for your CETS place.

4 When you apply, the CCC will need to know the following:Your service reference numberThe name of the parentThe name of the childWhether the place is FAS or VECWhether it is full-time,part-time or afterschoolThe duration of the course (Start date/ Finish Date)

5 If the parent has any question about whether they are entitled to CETS, rememberthat it is FÁS and VEC who decide eligibility. It is up to the parent to ask their localFÁS or VEC office.

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CETS Programme

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Childminding workshop– Gaeilge Workshop

There was very good attendance at this basicIrish workshop in Cabra Library. Bothchildminders and the children benefited fromand enjoyed the session.

Central Local Childcare Resource Service

Central Area

Breda KennyCentral Local ChildcareResource Service-Tolka Area Partnership27/28 Annamoe TerraceCabra,Dublin 7Tel: 01 8683806Mob: 086 0416219Email: breda.kenny@tap.ie

Participants on the Primary food hygiene level 2 course found the training interesting and very relevant.

Street Games workshop forChildminders in Cabra Library

Childminders and children gathered in Cabra Library to play streetgames, some old and some new, some Irish and some from otherparts of the world. Skipping, and the easier Snakes for youngerchildren,Green Gravel, Marbles, Two Balls, Sally Go Round the Sun,Relivio,Jelly on a Plate and the Hokie Cokie brought backmemoriesfor the adults. Different versions of games such as Ring a Ring aRosies were mentioned as well as the bawdiness and rudeness ofplayground lore. Crocodiles, wolves and tigers were run away from andthe children all left armed with skipping ropes,elastic ropes,balloons,balls,chalk, bubbles and other street game accessories.Meanwhile, Gerry Territt one of the librarians in Cabra had gathered acollection of books including ‘Éilis Brady’s All in! All in!, to remind adults ofgames they may have forgotten as well as new ones they can enjoy withchildren.Some childminders took the opportunity to book in children for the puppetshow,games and story sessions the library is running during the holidays.For details of childminder activities around Central Dublin contact theChildminders’ Advisor liz.butler@hse.ie 086 805 9323 or Early YearsCoordinator breda.kenny@tap.ie or 868 3806.

Donard CommunityPlaygroup is

moving premises –they are relocatingin St.Gabriel’s

school on CowperStreet.We wishthem well for the

future.

Contact Imelda on085-1465901for furtherinformation.

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South Central Local Childcare Resource Service

Creative Play and OpenEnded Materials Workshop

A ‘Creative Play and Open EndedMaterials’ workshop for childcare workersand childminders was held in Ballyfermot.This workshop was delivered by ElaineHynes from the IPPA. The evening was agreat success,with 15 in total attending theworkshop. Everyone had fun exploring avariety of open-ended materials and activities and discovering how these can encourage children’screativity and overall development. Here are some photos of the participants getting creative!

If you are minding other people’s children in your own home inthe South Central area and want childminding information,

training, support or simply the opportunity to meet other childminders, South Central LCRS can helpyou.We have lots of training and events organised for childminders this Autumn, including:1. Story Telling workshop2. Introduction to setting up a childminding service3. Home Based Childcare FETAC Level 5 module4. Coffee evening to meet and chat with other childminders.

If you are interested in any of the above, contact Fiona.

South Central Area

Fiona HassettSouth Central Local Childcare ResourceService—Ballyfermot/Chapelizod Partnership4 Drumfinn ParkBallyfermot,Dublin 10Tel: 01– 6235612Fax: 01– 6230922Email: childcare@ballyfermot.ie

Autumn Training ScheduleSouth Central LCRS has developed a training booklet for Autumn 2011. In

cluded in this are training

workshops organised by the LCRS (i.e. First Aid, Child Protection, Story Telling etc), workshops

organised by other National Voluntary Childcare Organisations and details of accredited

childcare training courses & modules. To get a copy,contact Fiona on 01-8989166

New Community ChildcareService Open in Crumlin

Crumlin Childcare Centre opened its doors inApril 2011 after a lot of hard work from theCrumlin Community. The D12 ChildcareConsortium successfully applied for a capitalgrant in 2008 under the NCIP capital grantscheme.A lot of sweat and tears were put intothe development of a purposebuilt, child-centred, community childcarecentre in Crumlin,with much success! The new service has fulltime,part-timeand sessional places for children from 4mths - 12 years. Parents can avail of the Free Preschool Year andthe service offers CSS and CETS places for parents also. To find out more about the Crumlin ChildcareCentre, contact the manager Claire McEwan on 01 4099532 or at info@crumlinchildcare.ie.

CHILDMINDERS!!

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North West Local Childcare Resource Service

NorthWest Area

Bernie Kelly & Celine SkellyNorth West Local Childcare Resource ServiceBallymun Whitehall Area PartnershipBallymunDublin 1101-8423612Email: childcareinfo@ballymun.org

DCCCwould like to announce that the Dublin NorthWest ChildcareResource Service covering the Dublin North West Area haverecruited a new Development Worker called Celine Skelly. Celinehas a background in Childcare and a degree in Psychology fromTrinity College. Celine took on the post of Development Officer inJune 2011 and to date Celine has visited most of the childcareservices in the north west area introducing herself and informingproviders of her duties in the Resource Service.She will be in contactwith the remaining services by mid September.Celine’s duties are towork closely with Bernie Kelly (Manager) as an outreach workerproviding support and mentoring to all the providers within theDublin North West Area. Bernie and Celine are available to supportall childcare providers from the Dublin North West area withECCE/CCS/CETS applications and returns on line.

Occupational First Aid Training will take place inBallymun Whitehall Area Partnership on Saturday

8th /15th and 22nd October

Dublin North West Childcare Resource Service are running a Síolta

and Aistear evening This session will give an overview of Síolta and

Aistear and show how the principles and themes of both can be

applied to the quality childcare already being provided.

Introduction to Síolta and AistearWhen: Tuesday 27th Sept 2011

Where: Ardmore Hotel Finglas, Dublin 11

What time: 6.30-9.30

Cost: This session is free.

Places are limited and prior booking is essential.A limit of one place per service applies.

A reserve list may be taken. Priority is given to those in Dublin North West area.

To book a place please contact: Celine on 01 8423612 or

email celine@ballymun.org

bernadette@ballymun.org

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South East Local Childcare Resource ServiceWednesday 21st September 2011Outdoor Play – this workshop explores the importance of outdoor play for children’s health,wellbeing and development. It provides practical ideas for the design of outdoor spaces and theprovision of activities.

Tuesday 4th October 2011School Age Childcare Workshop – this workshop will explore the theme of “Setting up anappropriate environment to encompass games and activities for 5 – 12 years olds”. The session willtake account of the age range, the need for some structure, etc but the fact that the structure hasto be a lot less obvious than when working with younger children.

Wednesday 26th October 2011Promoting language development through play and everyday routines with Sarah McGlinn (neeBrewer), Speech and Language Therapist.

Please note that this workshop is a repeat of the workshop delivered by Sarah Brewer 4th May inthe National College of Ireland and as such, is not suitable for those who attended that evening.

Wednesday 23rd November 2011Hands on arts and crafts session for 4 – 6 year olds with a Christmas theme: this workshop willprovide practical examples of open-ended materials and activities that can be used to supportchildren’s overall development. It considers how open-ended materials arouse children’s interestsand curiosity presenting them with challenges and opportunities to problem solve, to beimaginative and creative and support their overall development.

Please note that certificates of attendance will be provided. Both the September and Novemberworkshops will refer to Aistear themes and principles and Síolta standards.

Venue: The Carmelite Community Centre, 52 Aungier StreetPlease contact 01 475 4673 if you need directions.

Time: Registration from 6.15 pm .Tea, coffee and sandwiches available until 6.50 pmAll workshop are from 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm

Cost: €7.50 per person per workshop

Booking: Places are limited at all workshops and prior booking and payment is essential.A maximum of two places per workshop will be allocated.A reserve list will betaken and places allocated in vacancies exist.Priority will be given to parents, childminders and childcare providers in DublinSouth East.

Contact: Teresa Quigley to book a place on any of the workshops above.

South East Area

Teresa QuigleySouth East Local Childcare ResourceService—Rathmines Pembroke Community Partnership11 Wynnefield RoadRathmines,Dublin 6Tel: 01– 496 5558Fax: 01– 496 5590Email: teresa@rpcp.ie

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The Dublin City Childcare Committee(DCCC) Bursary Programme is a newprogramme which has been developed toassist people currently working within thechildcare sector to access recognised parttime degree programmes in Early ChildhoodCare & Education. The development of theBursary Programme highlights Dublin CityChildcare Committee’s commitment to the continued professional development of the Childcare sector,which is central to the delivery of high quality experiences and environments for young children.

To be eligible for the Bursary Programme,applicants must demonstrate that:

• They are currently employed and working within a registered pre school service.

• They are residing and working in a childcare setting within the geographical boundaries of DublinCity.

• They are / will be participating in a part time modular degree programme.

• They have a guaranteed place on a part time degree programme.

The Bursary programme is a limited fund,with a maximum of €300 awarded per successful applicant. If youare interested in applying, or if you’d like to learn more about the Bursary Programme, please contactEimear at DCCC @ 8733696 or email: eimear@dccc.ie.

The closing date for applications is Friday the 30th of September 2011.

Dublin City Childcare Committee Bursary Programme

There is a serious measles outbreak in the Dublin 1 andBallymun areas. In order to protect your child please makesure that your child has the vaccine for measles, mumpsand rubella (MMR) as shown in the table below.

If your child hasnever had anMMR vaccine

If your child had 1MMR vaccine

Children 6-11 months inDublin 1

Vaccinate now with MMR.

Give second dose MMR at 12months.

Give third dose MMR atschool entry age (4-5

years)*.

Give the second MMR at entry 4-5 years on entry to primaryschool.

Children 12 months or olderin Dublin 1

Vaccinate now with MMR.

Give second doseMMR at 12 months.

MMR Vaccinations

Meningitis is a disease that strikes fear into most people, especiallyparents of young children. A disease which progresses quickly andcan kill in hours, it continues to be responsible for the highest numberof deaths in children from an infectious disease. However, there isnow new hope with the possibility of a new vaccine forMeningococcal Group B strain (MenB) of the disease on the horizon.This strain is responsible for the majority of cases of meningitis andsepticaemia and to date there has been no vaccine.

In Ireland we see about 200 – 300 cases a year. However for thosewho are affected by the disease 10% will die and up to 20% will beleft with life altering effects such as amputations,deafness,blindness,epilepsy, cerebral palsy and often the disease can have a majorpsychological impact as well.

The bacteria that cause the disease are very common,at any onetime about 1 in 10 of us will carry them in our noses and throatswithout ever knowing they are there,and for most of us they will beharmless as we have a natural immunity. The bacteria movebetween people only through very close contact e.g. kissing. Thebacteria cannot live longer than a few moments outside the

human body, so they are not carried on things like clothes, bedding or toys.People get the disease when the bacteria move from the nose and throat and invade the body – eitherthe meninges causing meningitis or the blood stream,causing septicaemia.

We can be vaccinated against many forms of meningitis through the childhood immunisation scheme,but as yet we have no vaccine for Meningococcal Group B disease which is the biggest killer in Ireland frommeningitis. At the end of the year/beginning of 2012 we hope that a new MenB vaccine will be licensedand available for introduction into the childhood vaccination scheme.

Babies and children are at higher risk partly because their immune systems are not fully developed, with16-24 year olds being the 2nd most at risk group.

Meningitis and septicaemia are medical emergencies and if you suspect the disease youmust seek urgentmedical care. In the early stages, the first symptoms are usually fever, vomiting, headache and feelingunwell, just like many mild illnesses. Research funded by Meningitis Research Foundation , revealed that sixsymptoms: limb pain, a rash, stiff neck,dislike of bright lights, confusion,and cold hands and feet can helpdifferentiate meningitis and septicaemia from other flu-like illnesses. Early detection is imperative as thesediseases progress quickly; a healthy baby, child or adult can become seriously ill within a matter of hours.

Meningitis Research Foundation’s Ireland Manager,Diane McConnell says: “although this new vaccine (ifit is introduced) will make an impact on the number of cases of Men B inIreland,people should still be aware of the symptoms”.

Meningitis Research Foundation is happy to support anyone who has beenaffected or concerned about the disease through their 24 hour Freephonehelpline,befriending service and one to onemeetings.Simply call 1800 41 3344 or log onto their website at www.meningitis.org

The Dublin City Childcare Focus Group, a working group of the Dublin City Community Forum, will host afree public information seminar,aimed at childcare providers and parents, on the evening of Wednesday,25th November 2011, in the Wood Quay Venue,Civic Offices,Wood Quay,Dublin 8.

The speaker has yet to be confirmed but the Dublin City ChildcareFocus Group will forward on an invitation to all childcare providers inDublin City once the speaker is confirmed. If you have any queries,please contact the Dublin City Community Forum on 01 222 3259 orcommunity.forum@dublincity.ie

Mengitis B Vaccine on the Horizon

Date for Your Diary

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A UDC researcher contacted Dublin City Childcare Committee with regard to a Research Project theyare currently undertaking, they are specifically looking for practitioners operating or working in full-dayservices, that cater for more than one age group in different rooms, to participate in the survey.UCD (Post Graduate Research Into Transition)

This survey is being conducted by Christine O’Farrelly,a postgraduate researcher with the University CollegeDublin School of Psychology. The research is being carried out as part of her studies under the guidanceof Dr.Eilis Hennessy.The purpose of the study is to develop a better understanding of children's experiencesas they move to new stages of care and education within early years settings (for example thetransition from the toddler room to the preschool room). UCD are currently launching anationwide online survey on these transitions and are looking for service providers operating full day caresettings to take part in the Survey. The survey can be accessed through the following link,http://www.ucd.ie/psychology/TRP/index.html.The researcher is specifically looking for practitionersoperating or working in full-day services, that cater for more than one age group in different rooms. Theresearch is seeking between 150-200 service providers/managers to participate in the survey,but this targetis nationwide. The timeline is from now until the end of November. It is planned to publish a report on thefindings of all components of the transitions research project in the early spring

UCD Research

QUALITY CHILDMINDING FOR ALLBest Practice Seminar 2011

Programme

09:15 - 10:00a.m. Registration/Tea & Coffee

10:00 - 10:10a.m. Opening address: An Cathaoirleach,Cllr. John Bailey

10:10 - 10:45a.m. Introducing Aistear to Childminders: Dr.Mary Daily

10:50 - 11:50a.m. Session 1: Workshops 1-6Aistear themes: Well-being and Identity & Belonging

11:55 - 12:55p.m. Session 2: Workshops 1-6 repeatAistear themes: Well-being and Identity & Belonging

1:00 - 2:15p.m. Lunch/Networking

2:20 - 3:30p.m. Session 3: Workshops 7-12Aistear themes: Communication and Exploring & Thinking

3:25 - 4:25p.m. Session 4: Workshops 7-12 repeatAistear themes: Communication and Exploring & Thinking

4:30 - 4:45p.m. Closing of the seminar: Patricia Murray,Childminding Ireland

4:45 - 5:00p.m. Certificates of attendance/Raffle

Cost: €15 per person, including all conference materials and lunch if booked by September 30th,

2011; otherwise, booking fee is €€20 per person. Parking: €3 per day

Contact: DCCC at 01 873 3696 or 01 889 7123, iinnffoo@@ddcccccc..iiee

Quality Childminding for All

Childminding Ireland is delighted to offer membership to Voluntarily and StatutorilyNotified Childminders for an annual subscription fee of €20 in order that they canavail of the Group Insurance Scheme.

For further information please contact Childminding Ireland on 01 2878466 or yourlocal Childminder Adviser.

Childminding Ireland

DCCC Contact Details

www.childcareonline.ie

Our contact details are:

Dublin City Childcare Committee LtdOffice 2.13 Distillers Building,Smithfield,Dublin 7T: 01 873 3696F: 01 873 4488E: info@dccc.ieW: www.childcareonline.ie

DCCC Staff Contact DetailsJoe Rynn, Manager

� 01 889 7121 � joe@dccc.ie

Geraldine Gannon, Administrator� 01 889 7120 � geraldine@dccc.ie

Eimear Collins, Business Support Officer� 01 889 7124 � eimear@dccc.ie

Ciara O’Connor, Business Support Officer� 01 889 7125 � ciara@dccc.ie

Jeanette Goff, Information & Research Officer� 01 889 7122 � Jeanette@dccc.ie

Audra Hubbard, Childminding Development Officer� 01 889 7123 � audra@dccc.ie

LOCAL CHILDCARE RESOURCE CENTRE CONTACT DETAILSLCRC AREA NAME ADDRESS TELEPHONE/FAX/E-MAIL STAFF

Dublin North West Bernadette Kelly Dublin North West Local Childcare T: 01 8423612 Celine SkellyResource Centre, F: 01 8427004Ballymun Whitehall Area Partnership E: childcareinfo@ballymun.orgNorth Mall, Ballymun Town Centre, Dublin 11

Dublin North Central Emma Byrne North Central Local Childcare Resource Service T: 01 848 5630 Alison BensonMacNamee Northside Partnership, F: 01 848 5661

Coolock Development Centre,, M: 087 2641058Bunratty Drive, E: info@childcarebureau.ieCoolock, Dublin 17

Dublin South Central Fiona Hassett South Central Local Childcare Resource Service, T: 01 6235612Ballyfermot/Chapelizod Partnership F: 01 62309224 Drumfinn Park, E: childcare@ballyfermotpartnership.ieBallyfermot, Dublin 10

Dublin South East Teresa Quigley South East Local Childcare Resource Service, T: 01 4965558Rathmines Pembroke Community Partnership, F: 01 496559011 Wynnefield Road, E: teresa@rpcp.ieRathmines,Dublin 6

Dublin Central Breda Kenny Central Local Childcare Resource Centre, T: 01 8683806Tolka Area Partnership, F: 01 868613427/28 Annamoe Terrace, M: 086 0416219Cabra, Dublin 7 E: breda.kenny@tap.ie

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