ECCE& NCS

ECCE & National Childcare Scheme (NCS)

There are a number of Government supports available to help families with the cost of early learning and childcare. Daisychain participates in both the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS).

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Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE)

The Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) is Ireland's free universal preschool programme. It provides eligible children with up to two years of free preschool before they begin primary school.

The ECCE programme provides:

• 3 free hours per day
• 5 days per week
• 15 free preschool hours per week
• 38 weeks per year

There is no charge to parents for the 15 hours per week provided under the ECCE programme.

When Can My Child Start ECCE?

Children can begin the ECCE programme once they meet the Government's age eligibility requirements.

A child must have reached 2 years and 8 months of age by 31st August of the programme year. Children must not be older than 5 years and 6 months on or before 30th June of the programme year.

Parents can check when their child is eligible to begin ECCE using the official ECCE eligibility information below.

CHECK ECCE ELIGIBILITY / ECCE CALCULATOR

Registering for ECCE at Daisychain

Once an ECCE place has been agreed with Daisychain, parents will be asked to complete an ECCE Pre-Registration Form.

Daisychain will then register the child for ECCE through the Early Years Hive.

Parents will be asked to provide information including their child's:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• PPS number
• Eircode

If your child attends Daisychain for additional hours outside their ECCE session, these additional childcare hours are charged in accordance with our current fee list. Families may also be eligible for support towards these additional hours through the National Childcare Scheme (NCS).

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National Childcare Scheme (NCS)

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help families with the cost of childcare.

Unlike ECCE, which provides a free preschool session, NCS provides a subsidy towards eligible childcare costs.

NCS support is available for eligible children from 24 weeks of age up to their 15th birthday.

Types of NCS Subsidy

There are two main types of subsidy available under the National Childcare Scheme:

Universal Subsidy
The Universal Subsidy is not means-tested and is available to families who meet the scheme's eligibility requirements.

Income-Assessed Subsidy
Families may qualify for a higher subsidy depending on their household income, family circumstances and the age of their child.

The amount of subsidy available can vary from family to family, so we strongly recommend using the official NCS Subsidy Calculator to check what support your family may be entitled to.

CHECK YOUR NCS SUBSIDY / ELIGIBILITY

How to Apply for NCS

Parents apply for the National Childcare Scheme directly.

You can apply online through the official National Childcare Scheme website:

APPLY FOR NCS

To apply online, parents will normally need a verified MyGovID.

Your NCS CHICK

Once your NCS application has been approved, you will receive a CHICK (Childcare Identifier Code Key) for your child.

Please provide your child's CHICK to Daisychain. We will use this to register your child's NCS claim for their agreed childcare hours.

Parents must then confirm the NCS claim through their own NCS account.

It is important that parents keep their NCS award and CHICK valid and renew them when required to avoid interruptions to their childcare subsidy.

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Using ECCE & NCS Together

Eligible children attending Daisychain may benefit from both ECCE and NCS.

ECCE provides the child's free 3-hour preschool session, while NCS may provide financial support towards eligible childcare hours outside the ECCE session.

For example, a child attending Daisychain for a full day may receive their 3-hour ECCE session free of charge and may also receive an NCS subsidy towards eligible additional childcare hours.

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Useful Links for Parents

Not sure when your child can start ECCE?
Check ECCE Eligibility

Want to know what NCS subsidy you may be entitled to?
Use the NCS Subsidy Calculator

Ready to apply for NCS?
Apply through the National Childcare Scheme

Already have your NCS CHICK?
Please provide your child's CHICK to Daisychain so that we can set up their NCS claim.

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Please note: ECCE and NCS eligibility, subsidy rates and programme rules are determined by the relevant Government schemes and may change. Parents should use the official links above for the most up-to-date information regarding their individual circumstances.