Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme

Information

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme was announced in the Supplementary Budget of April 2009. The scheme aims to provide a free year of early childhood care and education for children of pre-school age. In general, children will be eligible for the ECCE scheme if they are aged between 3 years 3 months and 4 years 6 months on 1 September of the year that they will be starting.

The ECCE scheme replaces the Early Childcare Supplement, a cash payment to parents of children under the age of five, which is abolished with effect from December 2009.

The ECCE scheme starts in January 2010. The State will pay a capitation fee to participating playschools and daycare services. In return, they will provide a pre-school service free of charge to all children within the qualifying age range for a set number of hours over a set period of weeks (see ‘How the ECCE scheme is provided’ below).

Rules

Eligible age range

In general, children will be eligible for the ECCE scheme if they are aged between 3 years 3 months and 4 years 6 months on 1 September of the year that they will be starting. The application of the age range is being interpreted to include children who are aged more than 3 years 2 months and less than 4 years 7 months at 1 September each year. This means that children born between 2 February 2006 and 30 June 2007 (both these dates included) will be eligible to take part in the scheme in September 2010.

For the start-up phase of the scheme from January 2010, children between 3 years 6 months and 4 years 11 months can avail of free pre-school services. This means that children born between 2 February 2005 and 30 June 2006 (both these dates included) will be eligible to take part in January 2010.

Exemptions

If your child is over the eligibility age requirement due to special needs they may be able to get an exemption from the upper age limit for the ECCE Scheme. You should write to the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) seeking an exemption from the age limit (see ‘How to apply’ below).

If your local primary school’s entry age policy requires children to be aged over 5 years and 7 months before starting school, you can also apply to the OMCYA for an exemption from the upper age limit.

You should send your application for an exemption as soon as possible.

How the ECCE scheme is provided

The pattern of hours of free pre-school education depends on the type of service that your child attends and the weekly pattern that the service operates. The various types of service are described in our document on childcare options.

Sessional services

If your child attends a half-day or “sessional” service, such as a playschool, naíonra, Montessori or parent and toddler group, the normal pattern for the free pre-school year will be 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, over 38 weeks. If your child attends for more than 3 hours, you will be charged for the extra time.

If your child’s sessional service cannot open for 5 days a week, the normal pattern for the free pre-school year will be 3 hours and 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week, over 41 weeks.

For the initial period January/June 2010, the free service lasts for 23 weeks.

Daycare services

If your child attends a full-time or part-time daycare service, the normal pattern for the free pre-school year will be 2 hours and 15 minutes per day over 50 weeks. If your child attends for longer than this each day, you will be charged for the extra time.

To facilitate parents whose children attend a full or part-time service for only 3 days a week, such a service can opt to provide 3 daily free pre-school sessions of 3 hours 45 minutes each week over 50 weeks.

For the initial period January/August 2010, the free daycare service lasts for 34 weeks instead of the 50 provided in a full year.

Content and quality of service

Childcare services taking part in the ECCE scheme must provide an appropriate pre-school educational programme which adheres to the principles of Síolta, the national framework for early years care and education. Síolta co-ordinators and staff of the local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) will support participating services with assistive visits and advice.

There are general terms and conditions for the ECCE scheme and a leaflet for parents on the website of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. There is also an Information Update outlining the detail of the age limits and the extra capitation fee for highly qualified staff.

Rates

There is no charge for the playschool or daycare hours provided under the ECCE scheme. The State capitation fee pays the playschool or daycare service to provide these ECCE hours. However, if your child attends for extra hours, you will have to pay for these extra hours in the normal way.

A service may charge parents for extra activities. However, these must be optional and the service must provide other appropriate activities to children who don’t take part in the optional activity being charged for.

Capitation rates for service providers

For providers of daycare services, the weekly capitation fee will be €48.50 over 50 weeks.

For providers of sessional services, the weekly capitation fee will generally be €64.50 over 38 weeks.

Sessional playschools with more highly qualified staff may be able to qualify for a higher capitation fee of €75 per week.

How to apply

To get a place for your child, apply to a participating playschool or daycare centre. You can get a list of participating services from your local City or County Childcare Committee (CCC) – see ‘Where to apply’ below.

To get an exemption from the upper age limit, write to the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) seeking an exemption – see ‘Where to apply’ below.

• If your child is over the limit due to special needs, you should enclose a copy of an assessment of need from the HSE or else an assessment by a consultant. A letter from a GP will not be enough to get an exemption for your child.
• If your child is over the limit due to the local primary school’s entry age policy, you must enclose a letter from the school principal, specifying their entry age policy and the enrolment of the children in their school.

Where to apply