Learner Fund Graduate and Childminder Bursary 2023

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) have re-opened 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 Kilkenny County Childcare Committee (CCC) will process and appraise Learner Fund Graduate and Childminder Bursary applications.

All applications are to be returned via email to: [email protected] by 5pm on 29th September 2023

You will receive an email confirming receipt of your application, if you do not receive an email, please contact our office on: 056-7752865

 

Learner Fund Graduate Bursary – 2023

For an application form please click Here

Applicant Guide

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) 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 Graduate Bursary applications.

The following rules apply to the Graduate Bursary:

  1. The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be either:
    1. On the DCEDIY Early Years Recognised Qualifications list and indicated as meeting the qualification requirements for lead educator graduate premium.

Or

  1. The applicant must hold a letter of eligibility to practice from DCEDIY which states that the qualification meets the standard for the graduate premium.
  1. The award must be placed at level 7/8/9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and achieved in the academic years 2015 – 2023.
  2. The bursary amount will be €750.
  3. The qualification must be a full, major award; the bursary cannot be paid in respect of partially completed awards.
  4. Letters from third level education providers which state that a partially completed award is equivalent to a full award should not be accepted.
  5. 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).
  6. 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.
  7. The applicant cannot have received any public funding in support of their completing the award relating to this application.
  8. The bursary is available to experienced practitioners only; applicants must have been working in a Tusla registered Early Learning & Care Service to beginning their course.
  9. Applicants must be currently working in a Tusla registered Early Learning & Care Service. Childminders registered with Tusla can apply for the Graduate Bursary.
  10. Staff working in standalone School Age Childcare services are not eligible to apply.
  11. Application must be made by the holder of the award and not by any third party on their behalf.

 

Please Note:

With regard to (5) above: Only students who have registered for, successfully completed and have been awarded  a Level 7 or 8 Major Award are eligible.  Students who are enrolled in  courses,  who are continuing  their studies  and who have not been awarded a level 7 or 8 Major Award are not eligible for the Graduate Bursary.

 

With regard to (8) above: DCEDIY is aware that an increasing number of qualified practitioners choose to pursue post-graduate education to further advance their practice, but the DCEDIY is not in a position to provide funding in respect of this. If an applicant does not have an eligible undergraduate degree, and has a post-graduate award which is not on the published list, they should apply for qualifications recognition as a priority.

 

Sharing of data with relevant parties: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is committed to protecting the rights and privacy of individuals in accordance with both European Union and Irish data protection legislation. See DCEDIY Privacy Notice: https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/68bb14-department-of-children-and-youth-affairs-data-protection/

 

The CCC decision is final: There is no appeals process for the Graduate Bursary application or payment. The decision of the CCC is final for the purposes of the bursary application and process, and no delays to the timely conclusion of the process should occur. If an applicant is not approved and wants clarification on this, they can contact DCEDIY directly.

 

Application requirements:

  1. Application form to be completed in full and submitted by the deadline specified.
  2. Applicants must be currently working in a Tusla registered Early Learning & Care service or a childminder registered with Tusla
  • Supporting qualifications documentation (including photographic identification) must be provided with the application form.
  1. In lieu of graduating certificates, transcripts from the third level education institution can be accepted.
  2. The transcripts from the third level education institution must be in document/hard copy form and endorsed by the institution; screenshots of online student records cannot be accepted.
  3. The transcript from the third level education institution can only be accepted if it clearly shows that the full award has been achieved.

 

Timeframe for applications:

 

14th August Call for applications open by CCCs
29th September All forms must be fully completed and returned (incl. photographic evidence) by email to your local CCC no later than 5PM on Friday 29th September 2023.
Week of 13th November CCCs pay approved applicants

 

Learner Fund Childminder Bursary 2023

For an application form please click Here

Applicant Guide

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) 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 Learner Fund Childminder Bursary applications.

 

The following rules apply to the Childminder Bursary:

  1. This qualification for which the bursary is paid must be on the DCEDIY Early Years Recognised Qualifications list.
  2. The award must be placed at level 5 or Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and achieved in the academic years 2015 to 2023 inclusive.
  3. The bursary amount will be €750.
  4. The qualification must be a full, major award; the bursary cannot be paid in respect of partially completed awards.
  5. Letters from training providers which state that a partially completed award is equivalent to a full award will not be accepted.
  6. The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be that which qualifies the person to work in the Early Learning and Care sector.
  7. Applicants may only apply once and cannot be granted the Learner Fund Childminder Bursary for a second time if they have already received it before.
  8. The applicant cannot have received any public funding in support of their completing the award relating to this application.
  9. Applicants must currently be a Tusla registered Childminding Service.
  10. Application must be made by the holder of the award and not by any third party on their behalf.

Please Note:

 With regard to (2) above: the graduating certificate must be provided with the application form along with photographic identification. If not available, a full and confirmed statement of results should suffice. The statement of results must indicate that the qualification is awarded.

 

Sharing of data with relevant parties:

Information provided by the applicant will be used only for the purpose it was intended and will be retained by the CCC for financial audit purposes. Names and Email addresses may be shared with other City and County Childcare Committees for the purposes of verification and validation of previous grant support history.

 

Names of applicants and qualification level are disclosed to Pobal for the purposes of administering payments arising from applications. Information may be shared with DCEDIY but will not be stored or retained in any way by DCEDIY. The DCEDIY Data Privacy Statement applies and can be viewed on their website: https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/68bb14-department-of-children-and-youth-affairs-data-protection/

 

The CCC decision is final: There is no appeals process for the Childminder bursary. The decision of the CCC is final for the purposes of the bursary application and process, and no delays to the timely conclusion of the process should occur. If an applicant is not approved and wants clarification on this, they can contact DCEDIY directly.

 

Application requirements:

  1. A service reference number is required. If a Childminder does not have a service reference number, they will need to on-board through the Hive system (https://earlyyearshive.ncs.gov.ie/). This process may take time, so applicants are advised to complete as soon as possible.
  2. Application form to be completed in full and by the deadline specified.
  • Supporting qualifications documentation, along with photographic evidence, must be provided with the application form.

 

Timeframe for application:

 

14th August Call for applications open by CCCs
29th September All forms must be fully completed and returned (incl. photographic evidence) by email to your local CCC no later than 5PM on Friday 29th September 2023.
Week of 13th November CCCs pay approved applicants