2nd Free Preschool Year Explained.

Is your son or daughter due to start primary school next September? 

If so think again! Its not often our government gives us opportunities but the addition of a second free pre school year is an opportunity not to be missed.

The age at which to start primary school has played over and over in our heads with a couple of years. My gut feeling is as Seán’s birthday is January I would rather he starts school at 5 and 9 months rather than 4 and 9 months. We had every kind of pro and con listed for our preference and eventually decided yes 5 and 9 months is the option that we felt would most benefit Seán in the long run. While his is not the norm in our area, I know it is very much in keeping with the norm in other parts of Europe. It is also the norm in some very built up areas of Ireland where demand on school places requires a minimum age of 5 before starting school. So that was our decision made. Pre School however, was a whole other ball game. Reed our full choosing pre school post here. 

But in short: 

 In accordance with the ECCE scheme Sean would qualify for his either September 2014 or September 2015!! Am I don’t what it until 2016!!! So on the phone I got, and after approximately 300 phone calls, letters and emails I got the system over ridded and Seán would have his free pre school year in 2016! Sorted! But wait: what about this year? We wanted him to go to playschool 3 days a week this year so this we have been doing and paying for it ourselves. We didn’t mind. We feel very strongly about being the correct age starting primary school and if we had to literally pay this price we would. BUT then…..the Government agreed with us!!!!! Not that I actually went to any minister over this, although God know I rang so many people last summer one very well may been a minister!!!! I never pay much attention to the budget on budget day but this year I was glued!!! A second free preschool year!!! And the age limit is extended!!! This could only mean one thing: the government have finally read all the research stacked in favor of starting school at a later age!! Yippee!! For once in my life I felt we made a good, well informed, well researched decision. So what this means for us is: Sean has now been registered to the free ECCE year this year as a late applicant (closing day is TODAY people!!! Get on it!!) So this year is free for us and then he will be registered next year also under the new additional year! Another bonus: we get a refund of the money paid to date this year!! To say I’m thrilled the whole thing worked in our favor is an understatement! So that’s our ecce story!   What’s yours?

If your still undecided as to what to do here are the main points you need to know, (keeping in mind I’m no expert and this is just my understanding of things)

1: The new additional free pre school year comes into play from next September.

2: If your son or daughter is hoping to start school in 2017 make sure they are registered under the current ecce scheme by TODAY!!! (Friday Oct 22nd)

3: In case above you can then get your new free additional year next September.

4.If your son or daughter is currently enrolled in the ECCE year and planning on starting school next September you now may have an option of the new additional year next year. If your son or daughter’s birthday falls AFTER Jan 1^st they will be eligible for the new additional year next year. This is Orla’s story. Farrah, currently enrolled in the ecce year, was due to start school next September will now instead do the additional year in Pre School and school the following year.

5: If your son or daughter s hoping to start school in 2018, make sure to speak to your pre school provider a.s.a.p. They may not now have enough room!

6: If your little one is starting school in 2019, then sit back and relax, next September will be plenty time to think about your two free years in 2018 and 2017. While it sounds like AGES away, you do need to think about it when you can.

Please do act on this now, as far as I’m aware the closing date to resister for this year’s ECCE scheme is today.

If you would like to read more about the new additional ECCE year these are the websites I found helpful:

Early Childhood Ireland here

Department of Children and Youth affairs here

Hope this post helps. Any questions/concerns you have Ill try my best to answer, however the first link above is super. 

Thanks for reading,

Kerri and Orla. 

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