Healthy Ireland

About the Programme:

Bluebells Montessori is a Healthy Ireland preschool and achieved validation in 2019 and acknowledgement from the NCN the HSE and Healthy.

The emotional well-being/literacy element of the Healthy Ireland Smart Start programme provides valuable information and guidance to collectively build children’s emotional and mental health. Bluebells Montessori promotes children’s emotional development in their early years. Emotional well-being/literacy is essential if children are to thrive into adulthood

This programme consists of 6 units: which are interlinked in our preschool curriculum and implemented in our daily routines and early year’s education and care

• Health Promotion
• Emotional Well-Being / Literacy
• Physical Activity
• Nutrition
• Oral Health
• Health and Safety

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LINC is a multi-award winning education programme for early years teachers designed to enhance the inclusion of children with additional needs in early learning and care settings across Ireland.

What is AIM?

The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme.  Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE Programme and reap the benefits of quality early years care and education.

AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, based on the needs of the child and the pre-school service. For many children, the universal supports offered under the model will be sufficient.  For others, one particular discrete support may be required to enable participation in the ECCE Programme, such as access to a piece of specialised equipment.  For a small number, a suite of different services and supports may be necessary.  In other words, the model is designed to be responsive to the needs of each individual child in the context of their pre-school setting.  It offers tailored, practical supports based on need and does not require a formal diagnosis of disability. For more info see the AIM Government website

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.

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.

Purpose and Function

Five areas which underpin our purpose and function are

• The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child?
• The Childcare Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016
• Montessori approach
• Principles and standards of Aistear NCCA (2009) and Siolta standards CECDE (2006)
• Inclusion

Bluebells Montessori is a purpose built facility which offers an inclusive environment. The rights of the child are respected, promoted and practiced in our everyday practices and reflected in our environment both indoor and outdoor. The Montessori Method, principles of Aistear and Siolta are implemented and promoted in our everyday practice.

The purpose and function of our service is to provide

• A quality service where the health, safety and welfare for all is paramount
• Quality of care, provision and practice
• A curriculum which supports and scaffolds children’s early years education for children to reach their full potential in a positive and happy environment where the childs interests are reflected and built upon
• An inclusive environment where each child’s individual needs are met and equal participation is promoted
• A warm trusting environment which is welcoming to everyone
• A service which works in partnership with parents.
• An inclusive environment which promotes Equality and embraces diversity
• An environment where identity and belonging is promoted
• An indoor and outdoor learning environment , which enhances the learning journey of each child , offering a joyful experience to the child early years education
• An open door policy

Our service is open to all children aged between 2.6 years and 6years of age wishing to attend. Children may avail of the ECCE scheme and the NCS scheme.

Bluebells Montessori facility is a sessional Montessori and Early Years preschool.

The service is operational from 9:00 until 4:00 daily, Monday to Friday

– ECCE is available at our service.

– NCS is available at our service.

– Our service offers a morning session and an afternoon session.