Early Start Pre-School Programme
- What is the Early Start Pre-School Programme?
- How do I enrol my child in Early Start?
- More information
What is the Early Start Pre-School Programme?
The Early Start Pre-School Programme is a one-year pre-school programme offered in selected schools in some disadvantaged areas.
Early Start is for children aged between 3 and 5 years who are at risk of not reaching their potential in school.
School days usually last 2.5 hours (generally 9am to 11.30am or 12pm to 2:30pm). Primary school teachers and childcare workers create a play-based environment to help children develop language, cognitive, emotional and social skills.
Parents are encouraged to get involved in Early Start by helping to plan and organise activities. Early Start staff work with the Home School Community Liaison Co-ordinator to encourage parents to take part in activities.
How do I enrol my child in Early Start?
Each school manages enrolments onto their Early Start Programmes.
You can get a list of the schools in the Early Start Programme on the Department of Education website.
You should contact schools directly, or check school websites, to find out how to enrol your child for Early Start and the closing dates for applications.
What if my child is already enrolled in ECCE?
Your child may either be enrolled in Early Start or in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme. They cannot be enrolled in both schemes at the same time.
More information
Read more about the Early Start Pre-School Programme on gov.ie and in the Revised Guidelines for Schools Participating in Early Start (pdf).