Preschool Scheme

mirrorwall14

Hi everyone,

I really cannot get my head around this scheme and I've been burying my head in the sand so to speak but the recent thread put the wind up me! My son is 2 at the end of January.

I don't know when he would be due to start the scheme?
Do I need to use one beside my address or can I apply to the ones that are near to my childminder? I would need to change my childminder too otherwise
He's in a good childminder and getting great socialisation so I'm not too concerned about that aspect

Moonbeam

It applies from when he turns 3 , Google for ECCE scheme .

Big Bag of Chips

And as far as I know, because he won't be 3 until the end of January he will only be eligible to start in Apr (2018). You can pick any facility that suits you so long as they offer the scheme and have a space.

Ruddler

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I really cannot get my head around this scheme and I've been burying my head in the sand so to speak but the recent thread put the wind up me! My son is 2 at the end of January.

I don't know when he would be due to start the scheme?
Do I need to use one beside my address or can I apply to the ones that are near to my childminder? I would need to change my childminder too otherwise
He's in a good childminder and getting great socialisation so I'm not too concerned about that aspect

He will be eligible from the age of 3. He will be eligible to start in the April of that year but the April to June will be his first year used up. His second year will start the following September. Depending on when you intend starting him in school, it may be more beneficial to you to wait until September, when he's 3 and a half, if you want to send him for 2 years and start school at 5 and a half.

seamus

They changed the rules about eligibility so it's all a bit confusing.

One of the groups produced a calendar to help find out when your child is eligible to start;

http://aim.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Your-childs-eligibility-for-the-ECCE-programme.pdf

There is no question of "using up" years, as ECCE is now available the entire time between 3 and 5.5 years old.

So your son can start in April 2018 and remain in ECCE until the end of June 2020 as he will still be inside the age threshold.

That said, he'll be one of the eldest kids starting school at that time, you might prefer to send him a year earlier when he's 4.5.

Ruddler

seamus wrote: »

They changed the rules about eligibility so it's all a bit confusing.

One of the groups produced a calendar to help find out when your child is eligible to start;

http://aim.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Your-childs-eligibility-for-the-ECCE-programme.pdf

There is no question of "using up" years, as ECCE is now available the entire time between 3 and 5.5 years old.

So your son can start in April 2018 and remain in ECCE until the end of June 2020 as he will still be inside the age threshold.

That said, he'll be one of the eldest kids starting school at that time, you might prefer to send him a year earlier when he's 4.5.

That's interesting, thanks for that. It's been changed in the last while so. Will let a friend know, she thought she'd be losing out if she started her son next April.

dori_dormer

No those born early in the year get the most time. Mimes a Feb boy, will start in April and get 2yrs and 3mths

pwurple

dori_dormer wrote: »

No those born early in the year get the most time. Mimes a Feb boy, will start in April and get 2yrs and 3mths

That is, if there is a place available....

No spaces available at all for children not entering into the September cycle around here, and even then, they pretty much need to be full time in the creche up to that point to get on the list.


It has to be one of the most asinine scheme's I've ever seen someone come up with.

"Parents find creche fees really expensive"
"O I NO, let's create way more demand by enticing families who don't use childcare at the moment in 'for free', and put massive pressure on private creches, so there are even less spaces available."
"Yeah, let's do that"

Bork.

Millem

mirrorwall my guy is 1 year older than your guy. He has started monte this sept which I am paying for until 1st april. He will get 1st april-30th june free, then another 2 full years (if i delay him starting school).

I really think if you want your guy to start in the april, you will need to pay from the sept as I doubt anyone will hold his place but maybe you will get that universal 50cent off an hour scheme until he is 3?

He may need to be toilet trained when starting monte (depending on the school) which might be a consideration.

If you could get your minder to drop and collect that would be great but I reckon you will need to pay her during those hours so then it may work out better for you to leave him with her and not send him until the sept he turns 3 as it will be free

mirrorwall14

Everyone seems to be advising that they start schools after the age of 5?

Thanks everyone.

The scheme is wrecking my head. He's in the childminder with another lad just a month younger so I night have a chat to his mum and see what she's doing. I'm guessing that he ideal would be if the two of them could go together for a few hours somewhere

Millem

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Everyone seems to be advising that they start schools after the age of 5?

Thanks everyone.

The scheme is wrecking my head. He's in the childminder with another lad just a month younger so I night have a chat to his mum and see what she's doing. I'm guessing that he ideal would be if the two of them could go together for a few hours somewhere

mirrorwall with regard to school starting age I am going to see what my son is like and am also going to see what the age profile in the year will be. If everyone is waiting I will too. my son is a January baby

mirrorwall14

Millem wrote: »

mirrorwall with regard to school starting age I am going to see what my son is like and am also going to see what the age profile in the year will be. If everyone is waiting I will too. my son is a January baby

Sounds like a reasonable plan. I've got friends in primary teaching and family in training. They all say wait. Particularly because he's a boy. As someone who was held back at 9 because I was immature I really don't want him to be too young maturity wise

Millem

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Sounds like a reasonable plan. I've got friends in primary teaching and family in training. They all say wait. Particularly because he's a boy. As someone who was held back at 9 because I was immature I really don't want him to be too young maturity wise

I find the maturity thing really shows up in secondary. Better to be older than younger
In our primary school the cut off age was always middle of February due to demand. Some years it has been even the first week in February.

mirrorwall14

Millem wrote: »

I find the maturity thing really shows up in secondary. Better to be older than younger
In our primary school the cut off age was always middle of February due to demand. Some years it has been even the first week in February.

So he would have to start at 4 or he would have to start at 5?

ThisRegard

You'll know your kid beat. Our daughter went to preschool and ourselves and crèche/preschool guys felt she was well able for school at 4, mentally and academically.

It all depends on the kid really, are they going to stagnate in preschool or will they benefit from an additional year.

Millem

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

So he would have to start at 4 or he would have to start at 5?

No he could of started at either 4 or 5. Before this new scheme there would of been no question when he would of started 4 years and 7.5 months.
Children who were march, April, may babies were starting at 4 just not in our school because of the demand for places. There are now always too many category 1 children (based on parish) so they need to use age to offer places.....to the oldest first.

He is in a small Montessori which is ideal as he is so young and it's right beside the primary school. It's great getting so much individual attention. We will be in for a shock with 1:30 in primary!!! Most of the class will be going to school in sept 2018 so I will suss it out nearer the time

In the French school we wouldn't even be having this conversation. A child starts preschool in the year they turn 3 but they use jan-dec. a jan baby starts at 3 and 7.5 months an October baby starts at 2 years and 11 months.

I think the early babies are in a great position in the fact they have the option of delaying and getting a free year. My son has friends who are oct/nov/dec who would be a bit behind in some ways and if they delay starting school they don't get the 3 hours free one little boy was born 31st dec!!!