17/08/2016
Little Oaks Academy offer four Government funded Childcare schemes:
Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme (ECCE)
Training and Employment Childcare scheme (TEC – formerly CETS)
Community Employment Childcare (CEC)
Community Childcare Scheme (CCSP)
ECCE
The state’s Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme (ECCE) is an initiative to provide a free pre-school year for children before they start primary school.
With effect from 1st September 2016, children can avail of the ECCE scheme for up to two years prior to starting primary school, depending on the date the child turned three years old. Once your child has turned three years old, there are three entry points during which a child can join the scheme.
These entry points are
1st January,
1st April and
1st September of each year.
The ECCE scheme provides for a free placement of up to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks in line with the school term .The normal schedule for the free pre-school year is 3 hours per day over 38 weeks. However, children attending on a full-time/part-time schedule who are eligible for the ECCE pre-school year will receive the ECCE grant deducted from their monthly fees.
Once your child is three years of age, and has joined the ECCE scheme at the relevant entry point, they can remain in the scheme until they start primary school.
TEC
Training and Employment Childcare scheme for ETB students (Education and Training Board; formerly FAS and VEC) – Providing Free Crèche places.
If you have applied for an ETB training programme, you may qualify for a free childcare place under the government Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) scheme. The purpose of this programme is to assist parents taking eligible ETB (formerly FÁS and VEC) courses to undertake training by providing supported childcare places.The allocation of places under the scheme is managed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, via the City and County Childcare Committees (CCC’s).
In order to book a childcare place in our settings, you will require a letter from your course co-ordinator confirming that you are eligible for a TEC place. The letter should also outline the start date and finish date of the course. There is an additional charge where a child is less than 12 months old or is attending afterschool provision.
CEC
Crèche places for Community Employment Participants – Government Funded CEC Scheme. The CEC programme provides subsidised part time crèche places (up to 19.5hours per week) for Community Employment participant and in order to book a place, you will require a letter from your sponsor confirming that you are eligible for a childcare place.
CCSP
If you are currently availing of one or more of the following supports, you may qualify for a reduced cost childcare place under the government Community Childcare Scheme (CCSP):
• Medical card • One Parent Family Payment • Illness/ Injury Benefit or Disability allowance • Carer’s Benefit/Allowance • Family Income Supplement (FIS) • Job Seekers Benefit/ Allowance • Secondary School students• Widows/Widowers/Invalidity/State Pension• Tus Payment• Community Employment/Back to Work Allowance• Springboard/ETB/Solas Students
In order to apply for this childcare scheme we will require copies of your government support letter and medical cards, together with dates of birth and pps numbers.
If you would like to know more about how you might avail of a childcare place under any of these government schemes, please contact us at 0539489493 or 012862237
