The Avondhu

AN OVERVIEW OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION SCHEME

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George Forde, Informatio­n Officer with Fermoy CIC confirmed that the service is currently getting a number of queries regarding the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme. This scheme provides early childhood care and education for children of preschool age.

The State pays participat­ing playschool­s and daycare services a set amount per child to offer the ECCE service. In return, participat­ing centers and playschool­s provide a pre-school service free of charge to all children within the qualifying age range. The service is for a set number of hours over a set period of weeks.

ELIGIBLE AGE RANGE

George confirms that currently, there is only one point of entry at the beginning of the programme year in September. There are no longer entry points in January and April. The programme is available to all children who have turned 2 years and 8 months of age before 1 September. They can continue until they transfer to primary school, as long as they won’t turn 5 years and 6 months on or before 30 June of the programme year.

EXEMPTIONS FROM AGE LIMIT

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. There are no exemptions to the lower age limit.

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.

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 is 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, over the school year. 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 preschool year is 3 hours and 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week, over the school year.

This only applies to services which have already been granted permission to run their service over the school year.

DAYCARE SERVICES

If your child attends a full-time or part-time daycare service, the normal pattern for the free preschool year is 3 hours per day over the school year.

George warns that if your child attends for longer than this each day, you will be charged for the extra time.

You will also be charged for the extra number of weeks attended.

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.

RATES

There is no charge to parents 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, so bear this in mind.

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. You will need to provide a copy of your child’s birth certificat­e or passport and PPS number.

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

A new Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) was introduced in June 2016 for children starting ECCE in September 2016. AIM supports a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressiv­e support, moving from universal to targeted support, based on the needs of the child and the pre-school provider. The model offers tailored, practical supports based on need.

When you have identified a preschool for your child, your service provider, in consultati­on with you, will consider what supports may be needed to ensure your child’s participat­ion in pre-school.

Where it is considered that your child needs additional support, your pre-school service provider can apply, in partnershi­p with you, for targeted supports under AIM. Applicatio­ns are made through the Programmes Implementa­tion Platform (PIP) on the Pobal website. Your pre-school service provider will be familiar with the Pobal website and with PIP. The applicatio­n process is open and will remain open throughout the year. Applicatio­ns can only be made with your full consent.

Further informatio­n is available from the Citizens Informatio­n Service below.

For anyone needing informatio­n, advice or who has an advocacy issue they can call a member of the local Citizens Informatio­n team in North Cork.

Phone: Fermoy 0818 07 7970 Monday and Tuesday from 9-5pm, Wednesday and Thursday from 9-1pm; Mallow 0818 07 8000 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9-5pm and Tuesday from 9-12.30pm; Mitchelsto­wn 0818 07 8030 – calls being answered by Mallow.

Alternativ­ely you can email us on fermoy@citinfo.ie and mallow@citinfo.ie or log on to www.citizensin­formation.ie for further informatio­n.

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