Creative Spaces for Children
This Weeks News & Information Bulletin
Click HERE for this week in Childcare Bulletin
Deadlines/Important Dates:
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1st May
Applications close for Nurturing Skills Learner Fund
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12th May
LINC Applications close
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1st May – 14th May
Review and Confirm Window
Core Funding Review & Confirm
The May Review and Confirm window will open 01 May 2026 until 14 May 2026. If your service requires support, additional resources are available under the Core Funding Documents and Help and Support sections on the Early Years Hive. Your local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) can also help you complete your Core Funding Application Module.
Invitation to Nurturing Skills Midpoint Review Workforce Focus Group
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 on Tuesday, 28 April from 7pm – 8.30pm. To express interest in participating on the online Focus Group, click on this link
The focus group provides an important opportunity for those working in the sector to:
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Share their professional experiences
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Reflect on progress to date
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Help inform priorities and actions for the next phase of the plan (2026–2028)
Sustain the Spark
Childhood services week 2026 ‘Sustain the Spark’ will run 11 May until 15 May 2026. NCN is offering free online webinars designed to support the continued professional development of educators across Ireland. A full list of events are available here.
Parent Plus Early Years Training Programme
A new edition of the Parents Plus Early Years (PPEY) programme which will be launched on the 18th June 2026. Free to attend 18 June 2-3pm. To register click here
National Conversation on Education – Children’s Creative Spaces
Minister Norma Foley is inviting children from ELC and SAC services across the country to take part in Children’s Creative Spaces celebrating the theme “Where I learn and play”.
The aim is to give children the opportunity to express creativity, belonging, and their own experiences of their setting (Early Years or School Age Childcare/After School) adding their voice as part of the National Conversation on Education: the First Five Years and School-Age Childcare.
Timeline:
31 March – 30 April: Educators/settings engage in art activities with the children in their service using guidance provided by DCDE. The guidance document is attached to this email.
7 May: Submit digital version of artwork to info@corkchildcare.ie
15 May – 31 May: Keep an eye out for local galleries on our website, Facebook page and Instagram page.
Please click Here for a copy of the Educator Guide for more details.
QIPP Report Template 2025/2026.
The Core Funding QIPP Report Template 2025/26 is now open on the CFCRRS Portal. The deadline for completion of the 2025/26 QIPP Report is Friday, 31 July 2026.
Pre-Registration Training for Childminders
Cork County Childcare Committee is delighted to offer Pre-Registration Training to anyone who is interested in finding out more about childminding. This is a mandatory training programme for childminders who wish to register with Tusla. For any potential childminders, this training will support understanding of the new childminding regulations and will provide guidance on what is required to register with Tusla. This is a FREE training course and takes approximately 7 hours to complete. There is no assessment, and participants will receive a certificate upon completion. Please see additional information on the Childminders tab above Training and Events.
The upcoming online training dates are as follows:
Online: Wednesday 13th May & 20th May from 6.30pm to 9.30pm
If you are interested in attending any of these Pre-Registration Training Courses, please click on the link below to book your place:
Childminding Pre-Registration Training Cork County Childcare Committee 2026 – Fill in form
Please contact Denise at dquinlan@corkchildcare.ie / 087 1044448 with any queries.
Cork City Childcare Committee Childminding Pre-Registration Training dates:
In Person: Sat 21st March Location: Cork City Childcare, T12P9PV Time: 10am - 4pm
Online: Weds 15th, 22nd & 29th April Time: 10am - 12pm
Online: Weds 13th & 20th May Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Booking link: Childminding Pre-Registration Training Cork City Childcare Committee (Q1) – Fill out form For more information contact nessa@corkcitychildcare.ie
Hold Hands programme
Water Safety Ireland are offering a free training session. The session is will take place online Wednesday 20th May 12:30-13:15. Click here to register.
Minister Foley announces new €10 million capital scheme
The scheme is designed to deliver a significant number of additional early learning and care spaces. Click Here for press release.
Nurturing Skills Learner Fund 2026/27
Applications for the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) for the academic year 2026/2027 are open. Applications should be submitted via the NSLF student portal. Send a request to NSLF@pobal.ie to register on the NSLF student portal. The portal will close for applications on 1 May 2026 at 5 pm.
A recording of the recent webinar is here
Creative Process and Play training
"Permission to Play" is a Creative Workshop for Educators working in the Early Learning & Care (ELC) Sector. This is a two-hour, hands-on arts workshop designed for professionals in the Early Learning & Care sector as part of the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival on 28th April from 6–8pm. Led by artists from Graffiti’s BEAG Early Years Arts Programme, this session invites participants to explore their own creativity through playful, sensory-rich activities. Discover how a process-based, open-ended approach can enrich your work with young children—by first reconnecting with your own creative instincts. Past participants have called it: Fun. Free. Inspiring. Creative. Joyful. Peaceful. Connected.
The workshop is free, but ticketed. To book your place please use this link
Presented by Graffiti BEAG, a Cork-based Early Years Arts Programme funded by HSE South, Cork City Arts Office, Cork County Arts Office, and The Arts Council of Ireland.
LINC 2026/2027 Programme: Applications Now Open
Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 LINC Level 6 Programme. Through the LINC Programme, graduates gain Lead Educator/Room Leader status, participate in a DCDE fully funded programme and engage in a flexible blended model of delivery. Applications close Tuesday, 12 May at 2pm.
Cork County Childcare Committee was formed in 2001 and is funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) to improve the quality of childcare in Cork County.
In addition to supporting the administration of all Government funding programmes for childcare; City and County Childcare Committees work with early childhood services and childminders looking for support with quality development, HR, governance, financial sustainability and continuing professional development.
We also work with Parents to locate childcare best suited to their families needs, and advise on relevant government funded schemes etc.
