The ECCE programme is a universal two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The programme is available to all children who 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.

The compulsory school age in Ireland is 6 and all forms of pre-primary education are optional. However, children from the age of 4 can be enrolled in primary schools.

Aistear is the curriculum framework for children from birth to 6 years in Ireland. It provides information for adults to help them plan for and provide enjoyable and challenging experiences so that all children can grow and develop as competent and confident learners within loving relationships with others.

For Parents | NCCA

The Importance of Play- links to resources

tipsheet for play for parents and their babies

tipsheet for play for parents of young children

Learning to Talk

The ‘Learning to Talk’ series is a playlist of over 20 videos for helping all adults to support children’s early communication development. There is also a separate playlist of five bitesize YouTube shorts that are 30 to 50 seconds long. The ‘Learning to Talk’ series is designed by HSE Speech and Language Therapists in Partnership with ABC Startright, Limerick. The series gives you access to evidenced-based, easy-to-follow strategies from the comfort of your own home or workplace – and you can watch them whenever and wherever you choose.

To access the full series of videos on You Tube click HERE

The HSE Midwest YouTube channel, the link includes 9 short videos on promoting gross motor development with babies.

Click Here to view the rest of the YouTube playlist.