Free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme

From January 2010, a free pre-school year will be available to all children. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme will facilitate the implementation of this initiative and any pre-school services wishing to participate within the scheme must comply in full with the terms and conditions established by the Department of Health and Children.

Terms & Conditions

The following list identifies the primary requirements placed upon pre-school services participating within the scheme:

• Services must be notified to the HSE as a pre-school service

• Services must demonstrate satisfactory compliance with Child Care Regulations 2006

• Services will generally be required to have a minimum enrolment of 8 students for the pre-school year

• Services must provide appropriate educational programmes for children in the pre-school year.

• Services must adhere to the recommended staff ratios

• Services must ensure that all staff are adequately qualified and experienced.

Qualification Requirements

In compliance with the Child Care Regulations, a pre-school leader is sufficiently qualified if they:

Hold a certification for a major award in childcare/early education at a minimum of level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland (e.g. FETAC Level 5 Certificate in Childcare).

However, in recognition of the complex nature of the attainment of staff within the early education sector, an interim qualification measure has been introduced.

This interim measure states that where a pre-school leader has attained a component award pertaining to Early Childhood Education and Child Development and has 2 years experience working with children between 0-6 years, he/she will be deemed to be sufficiently qualified for the ECCE Scheme.

However, it is expected that those qualifying under this interim measure will obtain the   full FETAC Level 5 Major Award within 2 years.