Application Process Download 

We are delighted to announce the latest of our rolling training Journey Through the Early Years Hive. This training will benefit those wishing to refresh their Early Years Hive navigation skills and new Early Years Hive users.

Please note: this training will not include programme specific content. We kindly ask that questions asked on the day are kept to the topic of the Early Years Hive functionality and navigation.

As part of this training, we will explore:

• What is the Early Years Hive?
• Navigation overview (Menu tabs)
• Searching in the Early Years Hive
• Focus Areas:
  • Service registration
  • Service calendar
  • User roles & access management
  • Child registration (NCS, ECCE, CCSP Saver)
• General Early Years Hive good practice
• Support tools & on – screen messages
• Poll and feedback
• Questions & Answers

Please see below the link to register with Microsoft Teams:

Journey Through the Early Years Hive: Thursday 12 March at 10:30am to 11:30am

Future sessions will be announced on a rolling basis on the announcements section on the Early Years Hive. You are very welcome to extend the invitation to members of your team who would benefit from this training.

We look forward to having you attend this event.

Regards,

The Early Years Team

As outlined in the AIM rules, section 7.20 “ELC services and parent(s)/guardian(s) must engage with Pobal in relation to the transfer of ownership of equipment (including returning signed transfer of ownership forms, as appropriate). Equipment provided under AIM Level 5 should not be removed from the pre-school until the transfer of ownership process is completed.” 

Please ensure you follow these requirements for all AIM Level 5 equipment items.
A How to Guide and recordings of the Training Webinars are available on the Early Years Hive under the AIM Level 5 resources section.
If you need support, please submit a request on the Hive under:
•    Programme: AIM Level 5
•    Request Type: Equipment
•    Request Type Detail: Transfer of Ownership
Regards,
The Early Years Team

You and your staff are invited to attend training on the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund (NSLF) Registration, Employment Record and Student Application. The sessions will be held on 4 and 5 March 2026, as applications for the NSLF academic year 2026/2027 will open shortly.

As part of this training, we will be demonstrating the following:

• What is the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund
• Applicant eligibility criteria
• Registering to the NSLF Portal
• Completing the Employment Record
• Student Application
• Key point recap with the NSLF team

4 March 2026, 6:30 pm:

Session 1 Registration Link

5 March 2026, 10:00 am:

Session 2 Registration Link

Please note, the same content will be covered in both sessions.  A recording of one of the webinars will be made available on the Early Years Hive and the NSLF Student Portal along with the PowerPoint slides once the training has been completed.

Please ensure all staff are made aware of this training and the relevant times and dates. To assist with this, please note the following regarding eligibility:

Eligibility

Those wishing to make an application must meet the following eligibility criteria for the NSLF:

• be working with children in a Tusla-registered Early Learning and Care (ELC) or School Age Childcare (SAC) service.
• the service in which the applicant is working in, must have a current signed Core Funding contract with DCDE.
• Applicants must have worked within an ELC or SAC service for the six months prior to their application.
• Applicants must have a current application/offer for 2026/27 entry to a Level 7/8 Degree course approved by the Qualification Advisory Board (QAB) that is eligible for NSLF.
• be a new entrant to an Approved Course for the academic year commencing 2026/2027 (Autumn 2026)
• not be an ELC educator or SAC practitioner currently undertaking the completion of an Approved Course or an equivalent degree; and
• not be an ELC educator or SAC practitioner who has already completed an Approved Course or equivalent degree.

For clarity purposes, at the time of application, an applicant must not hold (or be undertaking) an Approved Course at Level 7 or Level 8 in Early Learning and Care.

Note: Only applicants who fulfil all the above Eligibility Criteria will be considered for NSLF funding in 2026.

Continuing Students

Continuing Students: existing students who successfully received NSLF funding for the Academic Year 2024/2025 and/or 2025/2026 and wish to continue to receive NSLF funding for the Academic Year 2026/2027.

Pobal will contact continuing students directly in early summer asking individuals to verify their continuing eligibility for NSLF.  Once eligibility is confirmed a new letter of Conditional Funding will issue to the student for the Academic Year 2026/2027.

Training for continuing students will happen at a later stage and you will be notified.

Regards,
The Early Years Team