Bluebells Montessori is pleased to participate in the governments Early Childhood Care and Education programme. This is a free 2 year preschool program. To qualify children should be 2 years 8 months before September 1st on year of entry.

What is the ECCE scheme?

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme provides early childhood care and education for children of pre-school age. The scheme is offered in our early years Montessori preschool setting, for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, 38 weeks of the year.

All children are entitled to 2 full academic years on the ECCE scheme.

Eligibility for ECCE by month of birth and of enrolment in pre-school Birth date between Eligible Enrolment date(s) ECCE end date

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a new scheme that provides financial support to help parents to meet the costs of childcare.

It gives financial support towards the cost of childcare for the hours spent outside of pre-school

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides early childhood care and education for pre-school children. It will not be affected by the NCS and will continue to operate alongside the NCS.

Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

A child is a child.

All children in Ireland, and around the world, have the same rights – the right to survive, to thrive and to fulfil their potential.
Ireland committed to promote children’s rights when it signed up to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1992.

The Rights of the Child are an important part of our everyday practice, where we have a strong focus on children’s rights linked to our overall practice, daily routine, early year’s curriculum and surrounding environment. Providing children with an environment which is safe and nurturing addressing the children rights throughout our setting.