Kildare County Childcare Committee

16/09/2026

Are you a childminder or a parent?
There's still time to attend an Online Focus Group.

As you may be aware childminding-specific regulations were introduced in 2024. The regulations are now being reviewed to see how they are working in practice, and what changes might be needed. We want to hear from you.

To participate in an ONLINE Focus Group go to: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/consultations/lets-talk-childminding/ -groups

16/09/2026

16/09/2026

Always Children First – Foundation Training

Protecting children starts with informed, confident professionals. This interactive one-day training equips Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) educators with the knowledge and skills to recognise, respond to, and report child protection and welfare concerns. It also supports services in meeting Children First and Tusla safeguarding requirements.

Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1993597464683?aff=oddtdtcreator

Book your place today and strengthen your safeguarding practice.

❗ Limited places available.

16/09/2026

Calling all Childminders & Potential Childminders in North Kildare.

KCCC are hosting a free music session.

Come join us for an hour of music, songs, games, connection and networking together.

Date: Wednesday 22nd October 2026

15/09/2026

Children's Participation in Decision-Making – Hub na nÓg Training

How can we make children’s rights and voices a meaningful part of everyday practice? 💚

Join KCCC for this interactive two-part training exploring how rights-based practice, a key principle of the Updated Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, can be brought to life in ELC and SAC settings.

Grounded in children’s rights, this training will explore practical and inclusive ways to listen to children, create meaningful opportunities for participation, and ensure their views are not only heard but can influence what happens in their everyday lives.

The training can also contribute to your service's Quality Improvement Plan (QIPP), supporting your ongoing commitment to rights-based practice and the implementation of the Updated Aistear.

Training Schedule:

Two-part in-person training

📅 Session 1: Monday, 21 September | 5:30pm – 9:00pm
📅 Session 2: Monday, 28 September | 5:30pm – 9:00pm
📍 Kildare County Childcare Committee, Unit 21 Thompson Enterprise Centre, Clane Business Park, Clane, Co. Kildare, W91 E6NY

🔗 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1993602098543?aff=oddtdtcreator


💶 Free of charge

15/09/2026

Potential & current Childminders

Are you wondering how to start up a childminding business or have you questions about the National Action Plan for Childminding

Come meet our Childminding Development Officer at the following locations:

Ballitore Library 23rd Sept : 9.30-12pm

Rathangan Library 11th Nov : 10-12pm

14/09/2026

Explore the Updated Aistear – Now Available on Demand!

Looking for an opportunity to pause, reflect and explore what the Updated Aistear means for your everyday practice?

Three webinars from the Exploring and Understanding the Updated Aistear in Practice national webinar series are now available on demand, giving you the flexibility to engage with them at a time that suits you.

✨ Webinar 1 – Bringing Aistear’s image of the baby, toddler and young child to life in practice
Explore the image of the child as agentic, competent and confident, and consider how this can influence relationships, interactions, routines and curriculum decision-making.

✨ Webinar 2 – Bringing Aistear’s image of the educator to life in practice
Reflect on the educator as agentic, competent, confident and reflective, and explore what this means for your role and everyday practice.

✨ Webinar 3 – Developing an emergent and inquiry-based curriculum in practice
Explore how tuning in, noticing, listening and responsive interactions can support an emergent and inquiry-based curriculum with babies, toddlers and young children.

Whether you are beginning your journey with the Updated Aistear or looking to deepen and reflect on your existing practice, these webinars provide a valuable opportunity to connect the principles of Aistear with what happens every day in your setting

👉 Access the webinars here or scan the QR code in the caption:

https://www.nurturingskills.ie/webinars/exploring-and-understanding-the-updated-aistear-in-practice-a-national-webinar-series/


Let’s keep the conversation going about what the Updated Aistear works in practice.

14/09/2026

Learner Fund 2026


Application Window Now Open for 2026 Learner Fund Graduate and Childminder Bursary



The 2026 Learner Fund Graduate and Childminder Bursary is open for applications between Monday 14th September and 5pm on Friday 9th October 2026.



To receive an application form, please contact your local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC). Completed applications must be received within the deadline by your local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) who will process applications, for appraisal by the DCDE.



The rules for the Graduate Bursary and the Childminder Bursary are set out below.



The Learner Fund Bursary amount for 2026 will remain set at €1000.



For 2026, the Learner Fund Graduate Bursary is open to Early Learning and Care practitioners who fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

have graduated in 2024, 2025 or 2026 only;

have graduated with a Quality Advisory Board (QAB) approved Early Learning and Care Degree Programme at Level 7 or 8 only.
The list can be viewed here: 20260409_List_of_Approved_Programmes_for_Adherence_to_the_Professional_Award_Criteria_and_Guideline…

For 2026, the Learner Fund Childminder Bursary is open to childminders who fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

applicants must currently be a Tusla registered Childminding Service.

have graduated in 2024, 2025 or 2026 only;

have graduated with Level 5, or 6 award on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)
or

have graduated with a Quality Advisory Board (QAB) list of approved Early Learning and Care Degree Programmes at level 7 or 8 only.

The list can be viewed here: 20260409_List_of_Approved_Programmes_for_Adherence_to_the_Professional_Award_Criteria_and_Guideline…

If demand for Learner Fund Graduate Bursary funding exceeds the available budget, policy-based selection criteria will apply, as set out in the rules of the scheme.


Completed applications for the 2026 Learner Fund Graduate and Childminder Bursary must be received by your local CCC by 5pm on Friday 9th October 2026.

14/09/2026

🌿 Taking learning outdoors

Outdoor play is so much more than a break from the indoor environment. It gives babies, toddlers and young children opportunities to move, explore, investigate, take manageable risks, encounter nature and make discoveries in ways that simply cannot be replicated indoors.

The updated Aistear: Early Childhood Curriculum Framework places an intentional focus on learning outdoors and on children's connection with dúlra (nature).

As we prepare for a new programme year, it is a lovely opportunity to reflect:

How can our outdoor spaces become places of curiosity, exploration and possibility — every day, and in every season?

Read more: When the Roof is the Sky: https://www.tusla.ie/news/new-outdoor-play-guidance-for-early-years-services/

Explore NCCA's reflections on outdoor learning and Exploring and Thinking below.

Reed more: NCCA Outdoor learning blog: https://ncca.ie/en/updates-and-events/latest-news/2025/february/aistear-blog-4/