The ECCE programme is a universal programme available to all children from the age of two years eight months. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and the programme year runs from September to June.
Childcare services taking part in the ECCE scheme provide an appropriate pre-school educational programme which adheres to the principles of Síolta and Aistear, the national frameworks for early years care and education.
Children are eligible for the ECCE Programme once they have turned 2 years 8 months of age before the 1st of September of the enrolment year.
For more information on the ECCE programme please see page 18 on the Parents Guide to childcare funding Programmes 209/2020 here.
For further information on eligibility please see our ECCE calculator below.