Learner Fund Bursary Autumn 2019
The Department of Children & Youth Affairs (DCYA) will re-open the Learner Fund Bursary to Early Learning and Care practitioners who are new graduates of a recognised Early Childhood Education and Care degree programme. The local City/County Childcare Committees (CCC) will process and appraise Learner Fund Bursary applications.
To be considered eligible for the Learner Fund Bursary, an applicant must:
This qualification for which the bursary is paid must be on the DCYA Early Years Recognised Qualifications list.
The award must be placed at level 7/8/9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and achieved in the academic years 2013 – 2019.
The bursary amount will be €750.
The qualification must be a full, major award; the bursary cannot be paid in respect of partially completed awards.
Letters from third level education providers which state that a partially completed award is
equivalent to a full award will not be accepted.
A letter of eligibility to practice from DCYA which states that the applicant is eligible for work as an ECCE room leader at the higher capitation rate can also be accepted.
The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be that which qualifies the person to work in the Early Years sector (and is at least level 7 on the NFQ).
Applicants may only apply once and cannot be granted the Learner Fund bursary for a second time if they have already received it before i.e. the bursary will be paid for one of the following – a level 7 OR a level 8 OR a level 9 qualification.
The applicant cannot have received any public funding in support of their completing the award relating to this application.
The bursary is available to experienced practitioners only; applicants must have been working in a Tusla registered Early Learning & Care Service prior to beginning their course.
Applicants must be currently working in a Tusla registered Early Learning & Care Service.
Staff working in standalone School Age Childcare services are not eligible to apply.
Application must be made by the holder of the award and not by any third party on their behalf.
Application requirements:
Application form to be completed in full and by the deadline specified.
Applicants must be currently working in a Tusla registered Early Learning & Care service.
Supporting documentation must be provided with the application form.
In lieu of graduating certificates, transcripts from the third level education institution can be
accepted.
The transcripts must be in document/hard copy form and endorsed by the institution; screenshots of online student records cannot be accepted.
The transcript can only be accepted if it clearly shows that the full award has been achieved.
Timeframe for applications:
| 19th August 2019 | Call for applications open by CCCs |
| 27th September 2019 | Deadline for applications – close at 5 p.m. |
To download the application form please click below:
Learner Fund Graduate Bursary Application Form Autumn 2019
All forms must be fully completed and returned BY POST OR BY HAND to your local CCC no later than 5PM on Friday 27th September 2019.
Decision of the CCC is final and cannot be appealed.
Learner Fund Bursary for Childminders Autumn 2019
The Department of Children & Youth Affairs (DCYA) will open the Learner Fund Bursary for Childminders who are registered with Tusla and hold a Level 5 or Level 6 award on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The local City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) will process and appraise the Learner Fund Bursary for Childminder applications.
To be considered eligible for the Learner Fund Bursary, an applicant must:
The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be on the DCYA Early Years Recognised Qualifications list.
The award must be placed at level 5 or Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and achieved in the academic years 2013 to 2019 inclusive.
The bursary amount will be €750.
The qualification must be a full, major award; the bursary will not be paid in respect of partially completed awards.
The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be that which qualifies the person to work in the Early Years sector.
Applicants may only apply once and cannot be granted the Learner Fund for a second time if they have already received it before. This includes applicants that may have received a Learner Fund grant in another round of Learner Fund in previous years where the applicant may have previously worked in a centre-based setting.
The applicant cannot have received any public funding in support of their completing the award relating to this application.
Applicants must be currently registered with Tusla.
Late or incomplete applications; will not be accepted.
Decision of the CCC is final and cannot be appealed.
The Learner Fund Bursary for Childminders will be available for Childminder applications in 2020.
Application requirements:
A DCYA reference number is required. If a childminder does not have a DCYA reference number, they will need to make an application for a DCYA reference number using the ‘DCYA Reference Number for Learner Fund Bursary for Childminders’ application form.
Application form to be completed in full and by the deadline specified.
Supporting documentation must be provided with the application form.
Timeframe for applications:
| 19th August 2019 | Call for applications open by CCCs |
| 27th September 2019 | Deadline for applications – close at 5 p.m. |
To download the application form please click below:
Learner Fund Bursary for Childminders Application Form Autumn 2019
All forms must be fully completed and returned BY POST OR BY HAND to your local CCC no later than 5PM on Friday 27th September 2019.
Decision of the CCC is final and cannot be appealed.
