Free Pre School ECCE Scheme

THE ECCE Scheme

  • The ECCE Scheme gives children access to free pre school services before attending primary school
  • The free element is limited and relates only to a certain number of hours per day
  • The ECCE Scheme provides parents of eligible children with either one of two options
    • Option 1 - A fully subsidized sessional care option
    • Option 2 - A partly subsidized full day care option

 

 Who is eligible for a place?  

  • If your child is between 38 months and 54 months on the 1st September of any year, they will qualify for the Scheme for that year

 

 

 

 

The Free fully subsidized Care Option 1

  • The free pre school year is a 3 hour, 5 day per week option offered over 38 weeks within the 44 weeks of the academic year from September to June of each year     
  • Class times will take place throughout the day. The class time your child receives will depend on your date of booking and availability within the centre
  • Parent’s preferences will be taken into consideration and Happy Steps will endeavour to accommodate these requests
  • Additional services and hours are also provided by Happy Steps and parents can avail of these options at an additional expense if they so wish

 

Additional services available to parents choosing Option 1 

  • Multiple additional hours of daily care
  • Daily Dinner & Snacks
  • School holiday care
  • Summer holiday care
  • Please note parents choosing Option 2 will receive these services as part of normal care

 

 The subsidy for parents choosing full day care Option 2 

  • This is a subsidy of €48.50 per week which partly covers full day care fees (Option 2)
  • If a parent chooses either a 3 or 5 full day option per week on a full time basis, they will receive €48.50 per week toward their childcare fees 
  • The subsidy is available for 50 weeks within a 52 week period  
  • The subsidy guarantees at least 2 ¼ hours of classroom activities for children choosing the 5 day option or at least 3 ¾ hours of classroom activities within the 3 full day option
  • The total subsidy under this option is calculated as follows - €48.50 x 50 weeks = €2,425.00
  • Happy Steps fees are calculated on a monthly basis and the monthly subsidy is calculated by diving the annual subsidy by twelve as follows - €2,425.00 / 12 = €202.08 per month
  • This €202.08 will be deducted off any fees for 3 or 5 full day options

 

 Who gets the subsidy?

  • The subsidy is paid directly to the childcare operator and not the parent

 

To book a place

  • Please give us a call or drop in to our centres to book your place
  • Parents will need to book their child with Happy Steps as soon as possible
  • Parents are reminded that places in the Scheme are limited and subject to availability
  • Parents will need to complete a Booking Form and must provide their child’s PPS number 

 

 

 

 

 

Terms and Conditions (See Booking Form for full details) 

  • The Scheme is available on a first come first served basis
  • Happy Steps reserve the right to cancel the Scheme at any time and provide one month’s notice of closure
  • Happy Steps reserve the right to refuse any application
  • Happy Steps reserve the right to change the hours or days that the Scheme is being offered to any participants

 

 

Gerneral Terms and Conditions stipulated by the OMCYA 

  • Children must be registered onto the Scheme before its commencement in September
  • After commencement of the Scheme a child cannot transfer from Option 1 to Option 2 or vice versa