Carlow County Childcare Committee

Please see a Bi-weekly Hive Snapshot 15-06-2026.

This was posted on the Early Years Hive.

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

💻 **𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 | 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝟭𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲**

Children are growing up in a world where being online is part of everyday life. For parents, keeping up with apps, games and online risks can feel challenging.

These **𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀** are designed to **𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻** to engage confidently with their child’s online life.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿:
• Understanding the **benefits and risks** of the internet
• Helping children become **effective, responsible and safer** internet users
• **Open communication** about online activity
• Setting **rules and boundaries** around internet use
• Understanding and responding to **cyber-bullying**

🗓 **𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 | 𝟭𝟱𝘁𝗵 – 𝟭𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲**
⏰ **𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 & 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲**
(All sessions cover the same information — just choose what suits you best)

👉 **𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:**
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/1Xpdsr1LAH

You’re not on your own. **𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.**
📞 **𝗡𝗣𝗖 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝟬𝟭 𝟴𝟴𝟳 𝟰𝟰𝟳𝟳**

If you know another parent who might find this helpful, feel free to share 💙

☀️ Summer Programme 2026

The Summer Programme 2026 is available to support children and young people with complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage.

This year’s theme is:

Building Confidence and Connections

The programme is designed to be an enjoyable experience for children and young people, with opportunities for student centred, play based engagement.

Parents should also know that:

✨ all schools can offer a Summer Programme
✨ there are school based options
✨ a home based programme continues for children with complex needs where a school based programme is not available

If you would like to find out more, you can read the full information here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/summer-programme-2026/

Did you know? Play is the language of children. It’s how they learn, explore, and make sense of the world around them.

Let’s Play Ireland is an annual government-led campaign designed to remind us all, young and old, of the fundamental importance of play. You can find ideas and resources to support play at home on our website: gov.ie/LetsPlayIreland

Let’s make time to play, every day!

Support for Continuing Professional Development

https://carlowccc.ie/2026/06/12/support-for-continuing-professional-development/

Being an agentic early years educator in practice

This 4 minute video gives an insight into how one early years educator interprets Aistear’s image of the educator as agentic, competent, confident and reflective.

https://vimeo.com/1140740838/598b597519?fl=pl&fe=cm

https://www.nurturingskills.ie/aistear-siolta/being-an-agentic-early-years-educator-in-practice/

's never too early to start preparing for the school year ahead. Check out Let’s get Ready for helpful information on getting ready for school.

👉 www.gov.ieLetsGetReady

👶 Childcare Fee Cap: what parents need to know

There has been a new announcement on childcare costs that may be important for families.

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality has announced new maximum fee caps for early learning and childcare services taking part in Core Funding.

This means that the highest possible upfront cost for a typical full day place of 45 hours per week is due to fall from around €198 per week to €183.70 per week, including the universal National Childcare Scheme subsidy.

The new measure will come into effect in September 2026.

The announcement comes alongside €480 million in Core Funding for Year 5, which the Department says will help support providers while keeping childcare more affordable for families.

It is also worth noting that many parents may already be paying below these new maximum fees and that higher subsidies may be available depending on income and family circumstances.

Read more here:
https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/press-releases/minister-foley-announces-details-of-maximum-fee-caps-alongside-over-480-million-for-core-funding-year-5/