County Waterford, Ireland
ECCE Scheme & Qualifications
The ECCE Scheme & Qualifications (adobe .pdf, 102 kbs) This leaflet aims to set out the qualifications required by pre-school personnel to qualify for either the standard or higher capitation rate of grant payable with the new pre-school year (ECCE) which started in January, 2010.
Guide to Childcare Training Paths
This brochure summarises potential career opportunities within the childcare profession, outlining the different branches of the profession from working at practical level to the support and development of the sector.
Aistear - The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework
Aistear is the curriculum framework for children from birth to six years in Ireland. While Siolta covers all aspects of quality within an early years setting, the Aistear framework focuses specifically on children’s learning through their interactions with their environment, the adults caring for them and other children within the setting.
It provides information for adults to help them plan for and provide enjoyable and challenging learning experiences, so that all children can grow and develop as competent and confident learners within loving relationships with others.Aistear describes the types of learning (dispositions, values and attitudes, skills, knowledge, and understanding) that are important for children in their early years, and offers ideas and suggestions as to how this learning might be nurtured. The Framework also provides guidelines on supporting children’s learning through partnerships with parents, interactions, play, and assessment.
The NCCA developed Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (2009) in partnership with the early childhood sector.
New Criteria for Awarding the Higher Capitation Rate
A higher capitation fee is payable to playschool sessional service providers where all the Pre-school Leaders in the sessional service room hold a bachelor degree in childhood/early education (minimum of Level 7 on the NFQ or equivalent) and have 3 years experience working in the sector, and where all the Pre-school Assistants in the service, hold a relevant major award in childcare/early education at level 5 on the NFQ or its equivalent. To apply for Higher Capitation please use ECCE form 10 - Higher Cap form.
It is a condition of the higher capitation rate that it is confined to sessional playschool services as these are services in which, for no charge, children can avail of the pre-school year on the basis of attending for 3 hours per day, 5 days per week, for 38 weeks per annum. In effect, the higher capitation rate is an additional benefit to the service rather than to the parent as it recognises the higher cost base of services with more highly qualified staff.
The higher capitation rate is confined to sessional services. However, it can apply to a number circumstances and subject to the conditions outlined in section 2.2.5
