Inspections on the ECCE (including AIM Level 1 and Level 7) and CCSP Saver programmes will commence shortly on the 2024/25 programme call. The compliance process will involve a series of standardised checks aimed at confirming adherence with programme rules and contract conditions as set out by the Department of Children Equality Disability Integration & Youth (DCEDIY).
Pobal will be delivering a series of webinars for providers on the ECCE, AIM Levels 1 and Level 7 and CCSP Compliance processes. Invitations will issue shortly for the webinars which will be scheduled for 21 and 22 October respectively. Each webinar will cover the same content. We encourage you to take the opportunity to attend a webinar. Following the conclusion of the webinar sessions, a recording of the session will also be made available on the Early Years Hive together with the PowerPoint slides.
It is advised that providers prepare for an unannounced compliance inspection by collating relevant information for review e.g. Parent Statements etc. in a Compliance File which can be made readily available to the Visit Officer on arrival. This will ensure minimum disruption and expedite the compliance inspection. It is acknowledged that services file their records in different ways which is acceptable, but it should be noted that records must be available onsite to enable the Visit Officer(s) to complete the compliance inspection in a reasonable timescale. In this regard we request that the person in charge onsite has access to the Compliance File / records in the event of an unannounced inspection. Please only maintain compliance related information in the Compliance File.
Guidance on Attendance record keeping was published on the Early Years Hive on 17 June 2024 which advised that the format of the attendance records is not daily sheets, but rather that each page shows at least one week of attendance (i.e. weekly sheets/roll books). This will greatly support services when tracking attendance patterns of individual children, to assist in submitting weekly NCS Hive returns and keeping ECCE and CCSP Saver Programme registrations up to date.
The Visit Officer will seek to review ECCE/AIM and CCSP records from the beginning of the programme year i.e. 19 August 2024 for ECCE/AIM and 12 August 2024 for CCSP.
With the commencement of the 2024/25 inspection cycle, the Pobal Compliance team have updated the relevant ECCE, AIM and CCSP support documents which are available on the Early Years Hive under the Resources section. These documents are listed below and can also be accessed through the following links: ECCE documents, AIM documents, CCSP documents.
• ECCE Compliance Checklist for Providers 2024/2025
• ECCE Compliance Guide for Providers 2024/2025
• ECCE Post Inspection Rectification Actions for Providers 2024/2025
• AIM Level 7 Checklist for Providers 2024/2025
• AIM Level 7 Compliance Guide for Providers 2024/2025
• AIM Level 7 Post Inspection Rectification Actions for Providers 2024/2025
• CCSP Saver Compliance Checklist for Providers 2024/2025
• CCSP Saver Compliance Guide for Provider 2024/2025
• CCSP Saver Post Inspection Rectification Actions for Providers 2024/2025
• Accessing the Compliance report on Hive 2024/2025 (NB: being finalised)
The Compliance Checklists are there to assist providers in identifying and collating all relevant documentation for an unannounced compliance inspection. The Compliance Guides are guides for providers that explain the compliance process. The Post Inspection Rectification action documents are checklists summarising what actions providers must take to rectify matters, if found to be non-compliant.
Please note – these documents are only supports, intended to assist you. There is an obligation on each approved provider to familiarise themselves with their responsibilities under the relevant ECCE, AIM and CCSP contractual conditions and programme rules.
