early childhood care and education (ecce) higher

Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Higher Capitation Rate Criteria

and Application Process

CONTENTS

1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1

2. Criteria for the Higher Capitation Rate .......................................................................... 1

2.1 Staff Qualification Requirement ................................................................................. 1

2.1 Child:Staff Ratio Requirement ................................................................................... 2

3. How to determine if a qualification will be recognised for the purposes of the ECCE

Higher Capitation Rate. ................................................................................................. 2

4. ECCE Higher Capitation Rate Application Process ..................................................... 3

4.1 Application Process ....................................................................................................... 3

4.2 Application Requirements ............................................................................................. 4

4.3 ECCE Higher Capitation Rate – Appeal Process........................................................... 5

Appendix 1: ECCE Higher Capitation Application Form ................................................... i

Appendix 2: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) ........................................................... v

1

1. Introduction

Currently, it is a requirement of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme

that pre-school leaders in services participating in the programme, and who are receiving the

standard capitation, hold a qualification in child care which is equivalent to Level 5 on the

National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland (NFQ).1

As part of the Early Years Quality Agenda, new qualification requirements for child care

workers are being introduced. All staff caring for children in an early years service will be

subject to a minimum qualification requirement of Level 5 or equivalent, while pre-school

leaders delivering the ECCE programme will require a Level 6 qualification.

Payment under the ECCE programme is by way of capitation fees which are paid directly to

the service provider. A capitation fee is payable in respect of each eligible child enrolled in

the free pre-school year, on a pro-rata basis if applicable.

A higher capitation rate is available to services participating in the ECCE programme in

which all pre-school leaders satisfy the minimum qualification requirements for the ECCE

Room Leader (Higher Capitation) as approved on the published list of DCYA Early Years

Recognised Qualifications and all pre-school assistants must satisfy the pending Preschool

Regulations Minimum Requirement.

The ECCE Higher Capitation rate must be applied for on an annual basis.

2. Criteria for the Higher Capitation Rate

For a childcare service to be approved for the ECCE Higher Capitation Rate the following

criteria must apply to ALL ECCE rooms/sessions in the service.

2.1 Staff Qualification Requirement

All pre-school leaders must satisfy the minimum qualification requirements for the

ECCE Room Leader (Higher Capitation) as approved on the published list of DCYA

Early Years Recognised Qualifications and have at least three years’ experience

working in the early years sector.

1 The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has published and list of DCYA Early Years Recognised Qualifications for the purposes of meeting the pending minimum regulatory qualification requirements and the contractual requirements of the DCYA Childcare Funding Programme.

2

All pre-school assistants must satisfy the pending Preschool Regulations Minimum

Requirement.

2.1 Child:Staff Ratio Requirement

Services must ensure that they have enough appropriately qualified staff present for

each ECCE session to cover the amount of children present at that time.

Minimum numbers of required preschool leaders and assistants for Higher Capitation purposes:

1 to 11 children per session at least 1 pre-school leader in the room at all times

12 to 22 children per session at least 1 pre-school leader and 1 pre-school assistant in the room at all times

23 to 33 children per session at least 2 pre-school leaders and 1 pre-school assistant in the room at all times

34 to 44 children per session at least 2 pre-school leaders and 2 pre-school assistants in the room at all times

And so on……

The ratios apply to all children present during an ECCE session (not just ECCE

registered children).

Please note: Services who do not have the required ratio of qualified staff will be deemed

non-compliant with the criteria for receipt of the ECCE Higher Capitation Rate and the DCYA

will take action to retrieve any monies that have been considered overpaid to the service.

3. How to determine if a qualification will be recognised for the

purposes of the ECCE Higher Capitation Rate.

Please refer to the Early Years (Pre-school) Regulations and DCYA Childcare Programmes

Qualification Requirements and DCYA Qualifications Recognition Application document and

the list of DCYA Early Years Recognised Qualifications for details.

In preparing the list of DCYA Early Years Recognised Qualifications all decisions on the

acceptability of these qualifications have been reviewed against a set of criteria including

core knowledge and skills identified as essential for practice in Early Years settings. As a

result of this review, qualifications previously deemed acceptable2 by the Department

2 Where a service was approved for the ECCE Higher Capitation Rate in 2014/15 based on a specific

qualification that is not on the published list of DCYA Early Years Recognised Qualifications and after assessment through the DCYA Qualifications Recognition Application Process is not approved, that service will be provided with a grace period of two years to continue to receive the Higher Capitation Rate while

3

of Children and Youth Affairs, for the purposes of the ECCE Programme, may not

continue to be acceptable for the purposes of the new Regulations or the DCYA

Childcare Programmes Contracts.

Early Years Service Provider applying for the ECCE Higher Capitation Rate must satisfy

themselves that each relevant staff member has the required recognised qualification by:

1. Identifying the qualification as one published on the list of DCYA Early Years Recognised

Qualifications and holding a copy of the qualification certificate.

or

2. Where the staff member’s qualification is not published on the list of DCYA Early Years

Recognised Qualifications but the holder considers it to be an appropriate Major Award at

Level 5 on the NFQ or equivalent, ask the staff member to apply to have the qualification

recognised through the DCYA Early Years Qualifications Recognition Application Process.

4. ECCE Higher Capitation Rate Application Process

4.1 The Application Process

Service Providers must apply to maintain the ECCE Higher Capitation Rate for their service

on an annual basis.

Where a service was in receipt of the ECCE Higher Capitation Rate in the previous

year this rate will remain in place until such time as the application to maintain the rate is

processed. At this point, if the application is declined, the service will be requested to return

any monies that have been considered overpaid to the service. Therefore, services should

not assume that the provision of the ECCE Higher Capitation Rate into the following

programme year is guaranteed income until such time as the application for the year in

question has been fully approved.

Where a service provider is applying for the ECCE Higher Capitation Rate for the first time or

after a gap of receipt of the capitation for one year, the service will remain on the ECCE

Standard Capitation Rate until such time as the application has been approved. Once

approved, any monies owed to the service provider will be back-dated.

making arrangements to up-skill to the required qualification level. This applies to the Room Leader Qualification for Higher Capitation only and all staff must meet the minimum Regulation requirements.

4

4.2 Application Requirements

1. Complete the ECCE Higher Capitation Application Form for the current ECCE

Programme year (Appendix 1);

2. Attach a copy of each staff member’s qualification as recognised on the published list

of DCYA Early Years Recognised Qualifications. Please do not send in original

qualification documents as the Department cannot take responsibility for

returning original documents to applicants;

3. Where a qualification(s) has been submitted for recognition through the DCYA Early

Years Recognition Application Process attach a copy of the letter(s) of receipt of this

application (with the unique reference number)

4. If the qualification certificate does not identify the subject field of the course, please

provide evidence from the education provider showing what field and subject the

qualification has been granted in (e.g. a copy of the transcript of the final results);

Foreign documentation must have a certified translation to English before

submission.

5. It must be clear that the staff/child ratio is met fully.

Please Note: The DCYA reserves the right to request further supporting documentation to

assist in the appraisal process.

N.B. Failure to submit all application requirements in full may lead to your application being

rejected and a requirement to start the application process again.

Completed applications can be submitted via email to: [email protected] or by

post to:

FREEPOST F5055 ECCE Higher Capitation Early Years Policies and Programmes Department of Children and Youth Affairs, 43-49 Mespil Road, Dublin 4.

D04YP52

mailto:[email protected]

5

4.3 ECCE Higher Capitation Rate – Appeal Process

Service Provider’s who wish to appeal a decision made in relation to the receipt of Higher

Capitation for their service may submit any additional documentation that they feel supports

their application for the Higher Capitation rate along with an accompanying rationale

supporting the appeal to:


D04YP52

i

Appendix 1: ECCE Higher Capitation Application Form Sept 2015 – June 2016

APPLICATION FOR ECCE HIGHER CAPITATION

Higher Capitation is only granted to services on an annual basis and is applied for one year only. Failure to reapply for the higher capitation rate will result in your service reverting to the standard rate from September 2015. All services who consider themselves eligible for the higher capitation rate must complete and return this form by the end of October 2015.

Name of Service:

Service DCYA Reference Number:

Service Address:

Contact telephone/mobile number:

Declaration I, _________________________________________ (grantee) wish to apply for the ECCE Higher Capitation rate with effect from _____/_____/_____ (date) and declare that the information provided in this application is accurate. Please tick as appropriate:

1. New application

2. Renewal application – No change in circumstances from Sept 14/15 3. Renewal application – Changes from Sept 14/15

(a)New Leader/Assistant

(b)More children

4. IMEB member

ii

ECCE Provision Details:

Room No.

Start Time Finish Time Total children in room

No. of ECCE children in room

No. of Pre-school Leaders per room

No. of Assistants per room

1

2

3

Mandatory Evidence to be provided

Please complete the information below for all staff members working directly with the children under the ECCE programme. A copy of the qualifications for

each member of staff must be submitted along with this application (see Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Higher Capitation Rate

Criteria and Application Process for details). Where a qualification(s) has been submitted for recognition through the DCYA Early Years Recognition

Application Process attach a copy of the letter(s) of receipt of this application (with the unique reference number)

For a childcare service to be approved for the ECCE Higher Capitation Rate the following criteria applies. All ECCE rooms/sessions must have pre-school

leaders who satisfy the minimum qualification requirements for the ECCE Room Leader (Higher Capitation) as approved on the published list of DCYA Early

Years Recognised Qualifications; pre-school assistants who satisfy the pending Preschool Regulations Minimum Requirement and the appropriate qualified

staff present for each ECCE session in accordance with the ECCE child:staff ratio requirement.

Room 1

Staff Name Leader/Assistant Title/Subject of Award Training Provider Award Body

Year Years’ experience

iii

Room 2



Room 3



Ratio Requirements

Minimum numbers of required preschool leaders and assistants for ECCE Higher Capitation purposes:

1 to 11 children per session at least 1 pre-school leader in the room at all times

12 to 22 children per session at least 1 pre-school leader and 1 pre-school assistant in the room at all times

23 to 33 children per session at least 2 pre-school leaders and 1 pre-school assistant in the room at all times

34 to 44 children per session at least 2 pre-school leaders and 2 pre-school assistants in the room at all times

And so on……

iv

Please Note: The DCYA reserves the right to request further supporting documentation to assist in the appraisal process.

N.B. Failure to submit all application requirements in full may lead to your application being rejected and a requirement to start the application

process again.

IMPORTANT: Change of circumstances

If a staff member leaves or is replaced the DCYA must be informed in writing immediately to check if the ECCE Higher Capitation rate is still applicable.

Increases in child numbers can affect entitlement to the Higher Capitation. (See ratio requirements above)

Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of Higher Capitation may result in the Higher Capitation rate being removed from your service immediately and the overpayment being recovered.

Name of Owner/ Chairperson ___________________________________________________________________________ (BLOCK CAPITALS)

Signed by Owner/Chairperson __________________________________________________________ Date _____/______/________

Completed applications can be submitted via email to: [email protected] or by post to:


D04YP52

mailto:[email protected]

v

Appendix 2: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

I was approved for the ECCE Higher Capitation rate last year, why do I have to

apply again?

The Higher Capitation rate is granted on an annual basis only. As the number children can vary from

year to year, this affects the ratio requirement for qualified staff and needs to be examined for each

ECCE term. Also, as services employ new staff, their details and qualifications need to be submitted

for examination. The terms and conditions for the Higher Capitation rate are subject to change as the

ECCE Programme develops in accordance with the Early Years Quality Agenda.

I was approved for the ECCE Higher Capitation Rate before, why is my

qualification no longer deemed as satisfying the requirements?

The approach to assessing the qualifications has changed, with a stricter approach being taken. This

means that the qualifications previously approved by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs,

for the purposes of the ECCE Programme, may not be recognised3 under the new Regulations or the

DCYA Childcare Programmes Contracts.

The application for ECCE Higher Capitation Rate is an annual process. The DCYA supports the on-

going quality development of the Early Years Sector sector and therefore may refine the criteria for

the receipt of the ECCE Higher Capitation in line with policy developments.

My qualification is a Level 7 or higher on the National Framework of

Qualifications (NFQ), why am I not suitable for the Higher Capitation rate?

The DCYA convened an Advisory Group in 2011, drawn from the Irish Universities Association, the

Institutes of Technology Ireland and QQI (then the NQAI) to provide advice on what disciplines

equipped graduates with the skills and competences to work in the Early Years sector.

The determination of the relevance of a discipline is established by the examination of the content of

the programme of learning which led to the qualification. This must contain the following elements:

Child Development Birth to six years, Early Childhood Learning Theory and Practice, Child Health and

Welfare 0-6 years. The programme must also have contained a significant supervised practicum in

relevant early childhood care and education settings.

The Advisory Group were unanimous that the only relevant discipline which fully complies with

required content is Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). The Advisory Group also concluded

that where a graduate in a different discipline (whether at Level 7, 8, 9 or 10 on the NFQ) also has

qualifications in ECCE at Levels 5 and 6 (or equivalent) on the NFQ, this is not considered equivalent

to a Level 7 qualification in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).

3 Where a service was approved for the ECCE Higher Capitation Rate in 2014/15 based on a specific

qualification that is not on the published list of DCYA Early Years Recognised Qualifications and after assessment through the DCYA Qualifications Recognition Application Process is not approved, that service will be provided with a grace period of two years to continue to receive the Higher Capitation Rate while making arrangements to up-skill to the required qualification level. This applies to the Room Leader Qualification for Higher Capitation only and all staff must meet the minimum Regulation requirements.

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