3.3 Universal Subsidy (CCSU)

3.3.1 Overview of Universal Subsidy As part of the Government policy to make childcare more affordable, the DCYA has introduced a universal childcare subvention payment of up to €20 per week for families using eligible childcare providers for the care of children aged from 6 months to the first eligible point of entry to the ECCE scheme. This scheme is administered via an enhancement to the CCS scheme.

3.3.2 Eligibility for the Universal Subsidy The childcare subsidy is available to all children aged from 6 months to the first eligible point of entry to the ECCE programme.

3.3.3 Required documents The parent must provide the child’s PPS Number and date of birth as well as the parent’s PPS Number. Documentation containing PPSN information must be destroyed once no longer required.

3.3.4 Programme Rates The maximum weekly universal childcare subsidy is €20. As CCS subsidies are currently paid according to session type, i.e. full-time, part-time, sessional, half-sessional, this maximum weekly universal subsidy rate of €20 will be paid on a pro-rata basis according to session type.

3.3.5 CCSU and Child-minders A child-minder can access CCSU provided they meet all CCS Plus eligibility criteria, and are registered with Tusla. (Please note that a childminder must be minding four or more children to qualify for Tusla registration).

3.3.6 Child absenteeism When a child who is entered on PIP for the CCS Plus Programme for 2017/2018 leaves the service or has not attended the service for two consecutive weeks, this information must be entered on PIP, stating the date the child last attended the service. Two weeks’ CCS Plus funding will be paid in lieu of notice.

Processing of CCS Plus Registrations takes approximately three to four weeks

Table 2 Universal Subsidy (CCSU) rates – per week rates
UCS Session Type Weekly Subsidy Full-time (i.e. 5 hours plus per day) Part-time (i.e. 3:31 to 5 hours per day) Sessional (i.e. 2:16 to 3:30 per day) Half-sessional (i.e. 1:15 to 2:15 per day)
€20 €10 €7 €3.50

2nd National Award 2016 Innovation in Creative Learning following on from Innovation in Environmental Awareness in 2014.Feedback from ECI :”
As a green school with a strong ethos on conservation, recycling, and holistic development Ulla Beag are always interested in promoting creative learning approaches. Two years ago they began a long term project to collaborate with local print media artist Lynn Kenny to integrate visual print media into their curriculum using a child centred approach. Through this process children had the opportunity to explore and develop their own creations as they experienced art disciplines such as painting, print making, various craft skills, and working with three dimensional form.

Using recycled and upcycled materials the children created their own toys and sculptures. More time was provided for Art activity as it was integrated throughout the curriculum. The provision of time and materials fostered greater creativity. As Lynn supported the children to display, discuss and review each other’s work they learnt from each other. Group projects emerged and evolved from the children’s interests or enquiries. One of their group projects on keeping our beaches clean collage ( a message from the children to other children using recycled materials ; painting ; printing ; weaving has been fast-tracked straight through to the Irish finals in the selection of the Irish fisheries board “Something Fishy 2016” Poster completion. Their efforts were acknowledged and published by the Department of Education http://artsineducation.ie/en/project/ulla-beag/
How rewarding to know that the art fostered in his early years has the potential to grow within him and accompany him into adulthood as his lifelong passion and joy.”

April 2016. We are now approved to provide CSSP.The CCSP Programme supports disadvantaged parents and provides support for parents in low paid employment and training or education by enabling qualifying parents to avail of reduced childcare costs at participating private childcare services. For any queries please contact Denise @ denisejoannasheridan@gmail.com or 0857283333

ECCE updates :thanks to all the response we are now full for ECCE year Sept 2016-June2017. We are still taking bookings for 2017-2018 and 2018 -2019 . Eligibility is based on the child’s date of birth as places fill quickly please contact Denise – denisejoannasheridan@gmail.com or 0857283333 with any queries.

Delighted that we have been published on Art in Education Portal for our collaborative project with Lynn Kenny on the integration of art into our curriculum to create a more inclusive teaching and learning process. Detailed project can be found here : http://artsineducation.ie/en/
Art in Education

Easter Camp 2016 now booked out including morning art camps and Tuesday Yoga camps. Next camp bookings will be for July Summer Camp 2016. Contact Denise @ denisejoannasheridan@gmail.com for more information

Snapshot of 2015

Another great day for Barnardos big toddle with our little guys. Lots of colouring ; bubbles; walking ; running and fun again. Thanks to all the parents for their contributions and sponsorship we raised €138. Some lovely pictures here.

All A lot of work underway on our water management program our 3rd Green Flag through An Taisces Green School Program so I wanted to pause and give an overall summary and details here for your information on what we have completed to date.
As you are aware we continue to manage our school greenly with a high priority on energy management; water management; sustainable living and litter and waste management and a big thanks as always to everyone supporting us through the green school program.

Executive Summary Our Work 2010-2015
1. Litter , waste management and recycling program :
•Maintained and grown to meet our growing population from 20 children 2013 /2014 to 30 children 2014/2015 per day.
•Cost avoidance of €1050 annually Growth year on year 2013/1014 to 2014/2015 of €350.

2.ENERGY MANAGEMENT

•Heat Consumption reduced by 1100 litres we saved 1.7 tonne of Co2. €900 saving annually.
•Electricity daily consumption reduced from 20 kW to 15 Kw. €233 saving annually.
•2014 First Low Energy Pyjama Day – no lights on from 8-18 saved 5 kW.
•2015 Second Low Energy Pyjama Day – no lights on from 8-18 saved 5 kw.
•Developed ; documented and rolled out an Energy Management curriculum with 12 individual projects.
•Rolled out a home survey and agreed an Energy Management pledge with our families.

3. Travel :
• Rolled out a Car pooling service with no charge reducing our Carbon foot print by 0.837 tonnes of CO2.
•All our afterschoolers participated and were actively involved in WOW days for OGNS.
•Rolled out a Yoga day for our school-goers/ after-schoolers supporting Active program with OGNS.

4..Water Management :
•Mapped our Water Management program to Aistear Learning Goals.
•Developed ; documented and rolled out a Water Management curriculum with 12 individual projects.
•Expanded our Ulla Beag Green Management code to focus on Water
•Fuinneamh Rapcheol
•Rolled out a home survey and agreed a Water Management pldege with our families.
•Active involvement with out parents
•Developed a dedicated Green Schools Committee webpage on our website www.ullabeag.ie

5. Biodiversity management
•Built insect hotels.
•Planted an edible native hedgerow-2011 in full bloom now.
•Planted native irish cherry trees
•Teaching curriculum teaching our children about native Irish indigenous planting; organic growing for sustainable living and non indigenous plants.
•Child friendly herb garden
•Planted a native apple orchard

5. Natural Playscapes
– recycling our native trees-willow; sally etc in partnership with a local Artist and Sculptor Gerard Bourke we have created natural play areas which are growing with our aging children so the gardens are suitable for 0-12 years now. With lots more plans on the way