The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides for a programme of early learning for children before commencing primary school.
With effect from September 2018, all children meeting the minimum age requirement of 2 years and 8 months will be eligible for a full two programme years on the ECCE scheme. This further enhancement delivers fully on a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government that is good for children and families.
The current academic year runs for 38; weeks; the following table shows the cost of increasing the number of weeks available to children in 2019, based on estimated registration figures:
Table 1: Cost of increasing ECCE academic year by increments of 2 weeks
Number of weeks in academic year
|
Total Cost
|
Increase
|
38 (Current allowance)
|
298.1
|
0
|
40
|
313.8
|
15.7
|
42
|
329.5
|
31.4
|
44
|
345.2
|
47.1
|
46
|
360.9
|
62.8
|
48
|
376.5
|
78.4
|
50
|
392.2
|
94.1
|
52
|
407.9
|
109.8
|