Dear Service Provider,
The November Review and Confirm window will open from 1 November to 14 November 2026.
This process enables Core Funding payments to continue by facilitating Partner Services to review their most recent application information.
Partner Services can complete their Review and Confirm with two options available:
- Review and Confirm with Changes
- Review and Confirm without Changes
Prior to completing the Review and Confirm process, Partner Services must ensure their Service Profile is up to date and their most recent Core Funding application record is at an ‘Approved’ status. If your application is at ‘Referred back’, you must address the reason for ‘refer back’ prior to completing the November Review and Confirm process.
If you have an Update Due Date populated on your most recently ‘Approved’ Core Funding application record, on or before the 14 November, prior to the date you complete the Review and Confirm process, you must action this as part of your Review and Confirm, choosing the ‘Review and Confirm with Changes’ option.
As per the announcements posted on 19 and 22 October, Partner Services are reminded of the importance of reviewing and ensuring that their Service Profile and Core Funding application information, which is used to calculate Core Funding allocations for Core Funding Programme Year 5 (2026/2027), is accurate and up to date. A guidance document, created by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality’s (DCDE), is available on the Early Years Hive to support Partner Services make updates where there has been a change to a typical week or changes to operating weeks.
If your service requires support, additional resources are available under the Core Funding Documents and Help and Support sections on the Early Years Hive.
Core Funding Payments
After the Review and Confirm window is closed, Core Funding payments will only continue to be processed as per the payment schedule on the Early Years Hive, provided your November Review and Confirm is at an ‘Approved’ status. Please Note: Service Providers who are also eligible for Equal Start Staffing Supports and Bia Blasta for the 2026/2027 programme year may have their payments impacted if the November Review and Confirm is not completed.
If your service requires support, additional resources are available on the Early Years Hive. Your local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) also remain available to assist you in completing your Core Funding application record.
If you require any further help or clarification on any of the above, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC) by raising a Service Request.
Regards,
The Early Years Team