The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides free universal pre-school to eligible children for two programme years. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks for each year. The programme year runs from the end of August to the following June in line with the primary school year.
A total of 108,614 children participated in ECCE for the programme year 2022/2023
All children between 2 years and 8 months and 5 years and 6 months with a PPS number are eligible to avail of ECCE, where a child has reached 2 years and 8 months of age on or prior to 31 August of the relevant programme year to be eligible.
Children who have not reached the age of 2 years and 8 months on or before 31 August are not eligible to commence ECCE in September of that programme year. However, they will be able to commence ECCE the following September and continue to avail of 2 ECCE years.
While ECCE is available to all eligible children for two programme years, some parents may prefer their children to start school at age 4 rather than 5 years and may therefore choose to avail of only one ECCE year. This is a matter for individual parents.
I have appointed Stranmillis University College, Belfast, to undertake an independent review of the ECCE programme. The review will assess whether the ECCE Programme is meeting its core objectives and will identify any changes or improvements that can be made to the Programme, based on international evidence and experience to date. This will include the age range for ECCE. As part of the review there will be consultation with a wide array of stakeholders who are affected by current policy. The final report is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. I will then consider the review fully and consider any policy changes that may need to be made to the programme.
