ecce scheme

Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)
The Early Childhood Care & Education Scheme (ECCE) provides one year of free pre-school education to every child in Ireland aged between 3 years and 3 months and 4 years 6 months on 1st September each year. The ECCE Scheme was announced by the government in April 2009 and was introduced in January 2010.

The introduction of the free pre-school year is a major development in the area of early childhood care and education. As a universal scheme, it is hoped that all children will be able to benefit from a pre-school place in this highly important developmental year before they commence national school.

What is the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)?
The ECCE is a scheme designed to give children access to a free Pre- School Year of appropriate programme-based activities in the year before they start primary school. Participation in a pre-school programme provides children with their first formal experience of early learning, the starting-point of their educational and social development outside the home. Children who avail of pre- school are more likely to be ready for school and a formal learning and social environment.
Will my child be eligible?

To avail of the free pre-school year in September 2012, children must have been born between 2 February 2008 and 30 June 2009.
To avoid disappointment and to avail of the scheme through The Mulberry Tree, please contact our office for further information on 096 70284 or email us at mulberrytree@eircom.net