Questions you may have about your child's Early Years education
We may add to this list of Frequently Asked Questions throughout the year. If you have a question which is not on this list or you require further information on any answers, then please get in touch with our Helpline Officers or Early Years Services Manager who will be happy to take your call or email.
The Helpline can be contacted from Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm Tel: 01 887 4477 or email: helpline@npc.ie
Our Early Year's Services Manager can be contacted on 01 887 4484 or email: cdowney@npc.ie
Click here for a Budget 2024 Overview and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Parents and Guardians from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY)
Click this link to find out more https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/e5a96-supporting-parents-a-national-model-of-parenting-support-services/#what-supporting-parents-is
If you would like to download further information please click these links:
Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parenting Support Services
For many parents choosing the right type of early learning and childcare service is one of the most important decisions they will make, ensuring they select the right type of early learning and childcare that best suits their child and family’s needs.
Click here to find out more
The National Action Plan for Childminding is a pathway to be developed over the next 8 years that sets out steps towards regulation, support and subsidies, for all paid, non-relative childminders. The Action Plan will involve change and significant benefits for childminders, children and the families using their services.
The aim of the Action Plan is to provide greater recognition for childminding and to support childminders in their work of providing high quality early learning and care and school age childcare, thus supporting child development and learning outcomes and helping families.
Click here to download the National Action Plan for Childminding
Click here to watch a video on the National Action Plan for Childminding
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help with your childcare costs. There are two types of childcare subsidy for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years of age
Universal subsidies are available to all families with children between 24 weeks and 15 years of age. This subsidy is not means tested and provides 50c per hour towards the cost of a registered childcare place for a maximum of 45 hours per week.
What you will need to apply online:
- A verified MyGovID account
- The date of birth and Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) for each of the children you are applying for
Income Assessed Subsidies are available to families with children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years. This subsidy is means tested and will be calculated based on your individual circumstances. Your rate will vary depending on your level of family income, your child’s age and educational stage, and the number of children in your family.
If you (and your partner, if you have one) are working, studying or training, the maximum number of subsidised hours available per week are 45.
If you (or your partner, if you have one) are not working, studying or training, the maximum number of subsidised hours available per week are 20.
Your subsidy can be used outside of school or ECCE hours, for example:
- childcare used before preschool or school starts in the morning (e.g. breakfast club)
- after-school childcare
- childcare used outside of preschool or school term weeks
What you will need to apply online:
- A verified MyGovID account
- Your children’s information such as date of birth and PPSN
- Your employment and income related details
- Your partner’s PPSN**
- Your partner’s employment and income related details**
**if you are a member of a couple
To see what you might be eligible for you can use the Childcare Subsidy Calculator.
See more at https://www.ncs.gov.ie/en/
To make an online application you will need to have a verified MyGovID.
Your verified MyGovID gives you safe, secure online access to a range of Irish Government services, including the National Childcare Scheme.
Click here to go to the National Childcare Scheme website and get ready to make an application https://www.ncs.gov.ie/en/how-to-apply/
The National Childcare Scheme also has a dedicated parent line to support you with your application:
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) Parent Support Centre is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. You can contact the Parent Support Centre by phone at the below phone number Telephone: 01 906 8530
The ECCE scheme is a scheme that provides all children with two years free pre-school care and education before they start primary school.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth provides a document setting out the rules governing the ECCE Programme. This is available at the link below.
From September 2018, children can start the ECCE Scheme once they have reached 2 years and 8 months of age by 31st August. If your child reaches this age after this date, then your child’s enrolment on the scheme will take place on the following September. All Children are eligible for 2 ECCE years of free pre-school (September to June, 38 weeks per year). All children availing of the ECCE scheme must not have reached the age of five years and 6 months during his or her enrolment (September to June).
This link shows the eligibility for ECCE by year of birth
gov.ie - Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) (www.gov.ie)
Yes, if your child has special educational needs then you can apply for what is known as an overage exemption to the ECCE scheme. This means that in individual cases some children may be allowed to stay on the ECCE scheme past 5 years and 6 months. However, this does not change the legal requirement for your child to attend school once they have reached the age of 6 years old. There are no exemptions to the lower age limit. If you have any questions about this, please contact our Helpline service Tel: 01 8874477 or email: helpline@npc.ie
Please see further details on https://www.dcya.gov.ie/docs/EN/City-County-Childcare-Committees-(CCCs)/4100.htm
In most cases it is 3 hours per day, 5 days per week. These can be morning or afternoon sessions
From September 2018 a child will be eligible to 76 weeks (two programme years) of free pre-school. Parents may decide to use less than this for various reasons, for example, if they wish to send their child to school at 4 rather than 5 years of age. When you join a pre-school, they will give you a calendar with the opening and closure dates for the year. You can only attend the free pre-school scheme on the dates provided by the pre-school, and your child must have completed pre-school by the time they have reached 5 years and 6 months old unless you have been granted an overage exemption.
Yes, if your pre-school offers this service. The rules around the fees charged for extra hours are different depending on the type of service your child attends.
Sessional Pre-school (operates 3.5 hours or less per day)
Sessional services can offer an extra 30 minutes per day. This service must be optional, and the cost included on the fee list under optional extras. You should be asked to sign this fee list when registering on the ECCE Scheme and you should keep a copy for your records
Part time services (not more than 5 hours) and Full-time (more than 5 hours)
Where a child is attending a part-time or full-time service the childcare provider must reduce the fees paid by the parent/guardian by €64.50 (or €12.90 per day) accordingly which amounts to the sum which is paid to the preschool for your ECCE place.
Yes, A full or part-time provider may choose to prioritise a free pre-school place for a child who will be using a full-time or part-time place over a child who wishes only to avail of the free pre-school.
No, you can change pre-school provided there are spaces available in the pre-school of your choice. Choosing a pre-school is the parents’ choice.
Yes, when your child is registered on the ECCE scheme it is only for one ECCE year, September to June. If you think you would like your child to attend the same pre-school for two years you should ask the pre-school manager what their policy is on this. Many pre-schools will take a deposit to hold a place for the following year.
It is always a good idea to ask the pre-school what their policy is on deposits before you pay one. It’s useful to find out what will happen in the event that you change your mind and do not take up the ECCE space and register on the scheme for the second year. Some pre-schools deposits are non-refundable, and some require a notice period of your intention not to take up a place and register with their pre-school for the ECCE scheme. Please see other FAQs on deposits below
Yes. Your child doesn’t have to attend for five days per week to avail of free preschool, but your pre-school provider must agree to take your child on a part-time basis. It’s important to note for example that if your child enrols for three days per week, the pre-school provider will only be paid by Government for the days the child attends. The preschool provider may decide that this arrangement may not be financially doable for them, as they may not be able to find a child to take the place for the remaining two days a week.
No, it is your choice as a parent if you wish to send your child to pre-school. However, it is important to note that the pre-school will lose funding for your child if they are absent for more than 4 weeks and your child will be taken from the ECCE scheme, meaning that your child could lose their pre-school place. In exceptional circumstances your pre-school can apply for an extension of this 4-week period up to a maximum of 6 weeks for example if your child is unwell. Therefore, it is important that talk to the pre-school manager or owner and inform them of any days that your child will miss.
Yes, you can reapply at any time, but you will have to repeat the registration process of providing your child’s Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) and completing registration forms. Although all parents have a right to register their children with the ECCE scheme, this does not automatically provide you with a pre-school place. If your child leaves the pre-school and you decide you would like them to return to the ECCE scheme, you will not automatically be entitled to the same place in the same pre-school.
Yes, if you want to change pre-school at any time, you can. You must provide 4 weeks written notice to the provider informing them of your intent to leave. Your child does not have to attend the pre-school for these 4 weeks, however you will not be entitled to a free pre-school place until the 4 weeks’ notice period has passed.
To achieve the best outcomes for the child, it would be recommended that children only attend one pre-school at a time to support the continuity of care and the development of relationships between the pre-school, children and their families. However, a child’s ECCE place can be split between two services in exceptional cases such as, where there is a joint custody arrangement, and, because of this, it is not possible for the child to attend the same service each day. Or in cases where a child has special educational needs and it has been recommended by a specialist that the ECCE place be split between a specialist and mainstream pre-school on the grounds that this is in the interest of the child.
Please Contact your local Childcare Committee if you would like further information on individual circumstances, contact details of each County Childcare Committee can be found here: https://myccc.ie/where-is-my-nearest-ccc
If you have any questions about this, please contact our Helpline Services details can be found on or website
There is no charge to parents for the pre-school hours provided under the ECCE scheme. You will have to make payments however for any extra hours your child attends if your pre-school offers this choice. Note that a service may charge parents for optional extra activities, such as additional classes or activities such as dance classes, trips outside of the pre-school, cookery, swimming etc. If any of these activities take place during a normal ECCE day, other equally enjoyable activities must also be provided for children if parents do not wish to sign up for optional activities. No optional activity should take place in such a way that would leave children feeling left out. For example, colouring, while other children around them are baking.
Arts and crafts materials should not be included as an optional extra as they are seen as a normal pre-school activity.All parents should be given a fees list when they start their child in the pre-school, where any extra costs such as the ones listed here must be noted. Parents must be given 4 weeks’ notice of any changes to this fees list.
Please contact our helpline for any further information Tel: 01 887 4477 or email: helpline@npc.ie
Yes. The pre-school provider may ask you for a booking deposit to hold a place in the pre-school for your child. The maximum deposit a pre-school provider may charge is equivalent to four weeks’ ECCE payment which is €69 per week. Booking deposits are refundable and must be repaid to you once your child’s registration has been approved on the ECCE scheme. Please contact our Helpline for further information Tel: 01 8874477 or email: helpline@npc.ie
No, booking deposits can vary from pre-school to pre-school. However, there is a limit on how much you can be charged for a deposit which is linked to the State funding of the pre-school.
For more information on this you can contact our Helpline Tel: 01 887 4477 or email: helpline@npc.ie or your local childcare committee.
Contact details for each Childcare Committee can be found here https://www.dcya.gov.ie/docs/EN/City-County-Childcare-Committees-(CCCs)/4100.htm.
The decision to refund a deposit on a pre-school place which has not been registered on the ECCE scheme is down to the individual pre-school (paying a deposit does not mean you are registered on the ECCE scheme). Some deposits are non-refundable, some may pay a percentage back and some may require a notice period, but it is ultimately the decision of the pre-school. It’s a good idea to ask the pre-school what their policy is if you do not take up the place. Please contact our helpline for further information Tel: 01 8874477 or email: helpline@npc.ie
Once you have booked your child in to a pre-school you should arrange a time to have a chat with the pre-school Manager about getting support from the Access and Inclusion Model, often referred to as AIM. It is quite likely that your pre-school will have knowledge and experience of working with AIM as AIM has supported thousands of pre-schools, children and their families to date.
You can apply for AIM supports in partnership with your pre-school by completing an Access and Inclusion Profile as early as May in the same year that your child is starting pre-school. Therefore, if your child is starting pre-school in September 2020 then you can apply for AIM supports in May 2020. It is always best to apply for supports as soon as possible so that they can be in place when your child starts in September. This process is completed online.
The next step is that an arrangement will be made for the AIM Early Years' Specialists (who are available over the Summer) to the visit preschools in advance of your child starting the ECCE scheme. With your permission they will observe your child and see what appropriate supports would be needed to ensure full participation in the ECCE programme.
Please follow these links for more information, you can also call or email our helpline Tel: 01 8874477 or email: helpline@npc.ie
http://www.npc.ie/early-years/concerned-about-your-childs-learning-and-development (our website)
The goal of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is to create a more inclusive environment in pre-schools, so all children, regardless of ability, can benefit from quality early learning and care. The model achieves this by providing universal supports to pre-school settings, and targeted supports, which focus on the needs of the individual child, without requiring a diagnosis of disability.
AIM commenced in 2016, since then, it has helped tens of thousands of children with a disability to access and meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme in pre-school settings nationwide.
For more information on AIM and how to apply you can go to the AIM website https://aim.gov.ie or contact the NPC Helpline where a helpline officer will be happy to help Email helpline@npc.ie Phone: 01 8874477 webchat: www.npc.ie
No, there are many different qualifications, which can come from a variety of colleges/ universities and training providers across Ireland and Europe. However there is a requirement in the ECCE scheme that all staff who work directly with children must have a minimum of Level 5 in Early Childhood Care and Education on the Quality & Qualifications Ireland scale (QQI) or equivalent. There is also a requirement that the Pre-school Leader of each group( a staff member responsible for a group of ECCE pre-school children in a pre-school) must hold a Level 6 or equivalent. Qualifications of staff in pre-schools can range from level 5 QQI upwards to degree level and above.
No, in pre-schools in Ireland there is no national agreed upon name for a pre-school teacher. The titles of pre-school teachers are not linked to qualifications, status or experience. What pre-school teachers call themselves is usually a personal choice of the individual staff member, pre-school manager or owner.
All pre-schools must have a Manager who is in charge and responsible for the day to day running of the pre-school at all times. Managers can also take on additional roles in the service such as a Room Leader provided they are qualified to do so. When the Manager is not in the pre-school the responsibility of the day to day running of the service must be passed on to another member of staff.
In addition to this each ECCE Scheme pre-school group must have a Room Leader who is responsible for the running of the pre-school class, the Room Leader must hold a Level 6 QQI qualification or equivalent.
In addition to any role in the pre-school, pre-school teachers can now also become Inclusion Coordinators by completing a Special award called the Leadership for Inclusion Programme, which is also known as LINC.
Yes. The Leadership for Inclusion Programme or LINC Programme qualification was introduced to pre-school teachers in 2016. This is a yearlong part time course where pre-school teachers learn about the inclusion of all children and families in pre-schools. Once a pre-school teacher has graduated from the programme they have the opportunity to take on the role of Inclusion Coordinator within the pre-school. You can ask your pre-school manager if there is an Inclusion Coordinator in your pre-school.
For more information on how this role can support children in a pre-school.please follow the link below. It is important to note that this role is different to that of a Special Needs Assistant
http://lincprogramme.ie/blog/the-role-of-inclusion-co-ordinator-explained
No, Pre-schools have a variety of educational methods. What is important is that unstructured play is part of the daily routine and each pre-school works within Siolta: the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. You can find out more about Siolta and Aistear in the following links:
You can contact our Helpline Tel: 01 887 4477 or email: helpline@npc.ie
Every pre-school must create a Services’ Fees List at the beginning of each pre-school year. A services’ fees list must show details of all the fees charged to parents, as well as details of any additional charges, optional extras as agreed. This fees list must be approved by the local childcare committee. More information on your local childcare committee can be found here
Parents/guardians must sign the Service Fees Information Letter to indicate that they understand the charges that the service will apply. This letter will be issued to parents by the pre-school and a copy will be kept on file by the pre-school.
A copy of the Fees List, together with copies of any letters including Service Fees Information letters that relate to DCEDIY funded programmes issued to parents, must be published in an area of the service accessible and visible to parents.
Yes, provided that they meet the age criteria, they must have turned 2 years and 8 months of age before August 31st as long they won’t turn 5 years and 6 months of age on or before June 30th of the programme year.
Don't worry! It is perfectly normal for young children to need help with learning to use the bathroom, here are some suggestions to help you support your child.
If possible, arrange a meeting to have a conversation with your pre-school Manager before your child starts pre-school, first days can be busy! Talk to the manager about any help your child might need, and how you help your child at home continuity is really important for children especially when they are transitioning to a new environment.
Ask the manager if they have a keyworker system in place. This means that there is an early year's educator who will have specific responsibility for your child's learning and development. If they do have a system in place, ask if you can have a chat with the keyworker so you can work together on helping your child to use the bathroom. Its most likely they will have lots of experience in helping children, but also importantly you will have unique knowledge about your child.
NPC delivers workshops to parents on the topics of “Supporting transitions from pre-school to primary school” and “Supporting your child’s positive mental health in the early years”.
A Supporting transition to primary school is also freely available in a video format with subtitles in 17 languages which can be viewed here
NPC has developed an Online “learning at home” programme which can be accessed at any time here
You can join our parents mailing list here so that we can email you directly and inform you of any up-and-coming training and provide you with registration link
You can follow us on social media (Facebook & Instagram) where we will promote our up-and-coming training
If you are a parent or childcare provider and you would like to find out more about our free workshops for parents you can contact our helpline Tel: 01 8874477 or Email: helpline@npc.ie
Information from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) for parents
