Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme

TheECCEScheme

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme provides early childhood care and education for children of pre-school age.

The scheme is offered in early years settings (pre-schools, Montessori’s, creches, playgroups) for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, 38 weeks of the year.

When can they start?

Children can start ECCE when they are 2 years and 8 months of age and continue until they transfer to primary school (provided that they are not older than 5 years and 6 months at the end of the pre-school year)

ECCE Eligibility Calculator

The programme is available to all children who have turned 2 years and 8 months of age before 1 September. (Calculate below to see if your child is eligible).

They can continue until they transfer to primary school as long they won’t turn 5 years and 6 months on or before 30 June of the programme year (see table below).