Pobal Portal Guide
Early Years Hive
Complete Guide
Master the Pobal Hive portal for child registrations, ECCE and NCS claims, and government funding.
What is Early Years Hive?
Early Years Hive (often called "Hive" or "the Hive") is Pobal's official online portal for managing Irish childcare funding programmes. If you're a registered childcare provider in Ireland, you use Hive to:
- Register children for ECCE and NCS programmes
- Submit weekly/bi-weekly attendance claims
- Receive government funding payments
- Manage your service's profile and compliance
- Access reports and reconciliation data
Hive is the single source of truth for Irish childcare funding. Accurate data in Hive means accurate payments - discrepancies between your records and Hive can lead to payment issues or compliance audits.
Key Hive Functions for Providers
1Child Registrations
Register each child with their details (name, DOB, PPS/CHICK). This links the child to your service in the system.
- • ECCE: Requires PPS number
- • NCS: Requires CHICK number from parent
- • Set session patterns and start dates
2Attendance Claims
Submit attendance records to claim funding. Claims are typically submitted weekly.
- • Record actual hours attended
- • Mark absences appropriately
- • Meet submission deadlines
3Payment Processing
View payment schedules and amounts. Payments are made directly to your registered bank account.
- • ECCE: Capitation payments
- • NCS: Per-child hourly subsidies
- • Payment remittance details available
4Reconciliation
Verify claimed attendance matches your records. Essential for compliance and audits.
- • Export reconciliation reports
- • Identify discrepancies early
- • Support audit requirements
Reconciliation Best Practices
Daily Attendance Recording
Record attendance daily, not retrospectively. This ensures accuracy and provides an audit trail.
Weekly Cross-Check
Before submitting claims, verify your system's attendance matches what you're claiming in Hive.
Document Absences
Record reasons for absences. Some absence types (illness, holidays) may have different treatment.
Regular Reconciliation Reports
Download and review reconciliation reports monthly. Address discrepancies immediately.
Compliance Note: Pobal conducts regular audits. Services with consistent discrepancies between claimed and actual attendance may face funding recovery or contract review.
Common Issues and Fixes
CHICK number not found
Solution: Parent needs to complete NCS application at ncs.gov.ie. CHICK is only issued after approval.
PPS number mismatch
Solution: Verify the child's PPS number with the parent. Ensure no typos in Hive registration.
Attendance exceeds registered hours
Solution: Check the child's registered session pattern. Adjust attendance or update registration.
Claim rejected - child not registered
Solution: Complete child registration in Hive before submitting claims. Allow 24-48 hours for processing.
Payment amount different than expected
Solution: Check for attendance adjustments, rate changes, or reconciliation corrections applied by Pobal.
How CrecheHQ Integrates with Hive
CrecheHQ is designed to complement Early Years Hive, ensuring your attendance records are accurate and claim-ready.
Accurate Attendance
Real-time kiosk check-in/out creates an auditable attendance trail
CHICK Number Storage
Store CHICK numbers securely on child profiles for easy reference
Compliance Dashboard
Monitor attendance thresholds and spot discrepancies before claiming
Export Reports
Generate attendance reports that align with Hive requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Early Years Hive
What is Early Years Hive?
Early Years Hive (commonly called Hive) is Pobal's online portal for Irish childcare providers. It's used to manage child registrations, submit ECCE and NCS claims, and receive funding payments from the Department of Children.
How do I register a child on Early Years Hive?
To register a child, you need their personal details and (for NCS) their CHICK number. Log into Hive, navigate to child registrations, and enter the required information. For ECCE, you'll need the child's PPS number. For NCS, you need the CHICK number provided by the parent.
When do I need to submit claims on Early Years Hive?
Claims are typically submitted on a weekly or bi-weekly cycle depending on the scheme. ECCE claims are usually submitted weekly during the programme year. NCS claims can be submitted weekly. Deadlines are strict - late claims may not be processed.
What is reconciliation on Early Years Hive?
Reconciliation is the process of verifying that claimed attendance matches actual attendance records. Pobal may request reconciliation reports or conduct audits. Your childcare management system should maintain accurate attendance records that match what you claim in Hive.
What should I do if my Hive claim is rejected?
Common reasons for rejection include mismatched child details, invalid CHICK numbers, or attendance exceeding registered hours. Check the error message in Hive, verify the child's registration details, and ensure attendance records are accurate. Contact Pobal support if issues persist.
Streamline Your Hive Workflow
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