Nurturing Skills Learner Fund was established to enable educators who continue to work within the sector to pursue Level 7 and 8 qualifications in support of the First 5 and subsequently Nurturing Skills objective of a 'graduate led' Early Learning and Care workforce.
The Nurturing Skills Learner Fund assists in the financial costs for Early Year’s Educators who wish to pursue Early Learning and Care qualifications approved by the Qualifications Advisory Board at level 7 and level 8 while continuing to work in the sector, in a core funded service.
The scheme applies to those Early Years Educators who are entering a Nurturing Skills Learner Fund approved course for the first time only.
Nurturing Skills Learner Fund pays up to 90% of Course Fees excluding student levies. 80% Course Fees are paid directly to the Higher Education Institutions, after deduction of all other government funding up to a maximum of €3200 per academic year for a student irrespective of the cost of the course. The remaining 10% is paid directly to the student, on completion of the course, remaining in a core funded service for six months and completion of exit surveys, up to a maximum of €400 per academic year.
Pobal administer the Nurturing Skills Learner Fund scheme on behalf of the Department. Pobal have agreed timelines in place with all Higher Education Institutions for payments on behalf of Nurturing Skills Learner Fund students.
Pobal contacted the National College of Ireland in relation to this matter. The National College of Ireland has advised that there is no issue with students accessing their examination results due to outstanding course fees covered by Nurturing Skills Learner Fund.
Students with outstanding fees that are not related to Nurturing Skills Learner Fund payments will have their exam results withheld until the balance of those additional fees has been settled. These outstanding fees may include charges such as library fees, among others.
The National College of Ireland advised Pobal that any Nurturing Skills Learner Fund student who are awaiting exam results may contact the college directly to have the issue progressed.
