In January 2010 a universally available preschool year was introduced.
The ECCE programme is a universal two-year preschool programme available to all children within the eligible age range. It provides children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school.
The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year and the programme year runs from September to June each year. There is one point of entry at the beginning of the programme year.
The programme is available to all children who have turned 2 years and 8 months before September as long as they don’t turn 5 years and 6 months at any point during the preschool year.
Childcare services taking part in the ECCE programme must provide an appropriate preschool educational programme which adheres to the principles of Síolta, the national framework for early years care and education.
Services providing the ECCE
The programme is provided in both community and private Tusla registered Early Years Services. A list of Laois services providing the ECCE can be found on our directory page https://www.laoischildcare.ie/directory/
Optional Extras
Childcare services can charge for additional services that they provide, such as additional hours and optional extra activities, such as trips, swimming, parties, etc. Please be advised that parents are not obliged to avail of any optional extras.
Notice required
If a parent/guardian wishes to move their child to another ELC Service provider, parents/guardians must give providers 4 weeks’ notice of a departure from a service (excluding holidays/closed weeks) to the current ELC Service provider.
Find out more about the scheme in the full programme rules document free preschool year.
The following table sets out relevant eligibility dates by year of birth: Table 1: Eligibility for ECCE by month of birth and of enrolment in pre-school | ||
Birth date between | Eligible Enrolment date(s) | ECCE end date |
1st January 2017 – 31st December 2017 | 1st September 2020 + 1st September 2021 | June 2022 |
1st January 2018 – 31st December 2018 | 1st September 2021 + 1st September 2022 | June 2023 |
1st January 2019 – 31st December 2019 | 1st September 2022 + 1st September 2023 | June 2024 |
1st January 2020 – 31st December 2020 | 1st September 2023 + 1st September 2024 | June 2025 |
1st January 2021 – 31st December 2021 | 1st September 2024 + 1st September 2025 | June 2026 |
Arles National School
Ballickmoyler
Arles
Co. Laois
Mob: 085 1333419
Manager: Jayde Baillie Card
30 Clondarrig Court,
Bellingham
Portlaoise
Co. Laois R32 C8NK
Mob: 086 3334965
Manager: Carol Phelan
St. Pius X National School
Ballacolla
Co. Laois
Mob: 087 9509568
Barrowhouse Community Hall, Barrowhouse
Barrowhouse
Co. Laois
Mob: 083 3900533
Manager: Siobhan Lacey
24 Beechlawn
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Birchgrove Community Centre
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Mob: 087 3543906
Manager: Therese Ryan
Gaelsoil An Tslí
Ballaghmore
Borris In Ossory
Co. Laois
Tel: 086 8145542
Manager: Grainne Harte
Springhill Rd
Graiguecullen
Co. Laois
56 Ardan Glas
Portlaoise
Co. Co. Laois R32 PYV6
Mob: 089 4281952
Childminder: Christine Downes
Acragar
Mountmellick
Co. Laois
6A Rahinwood
Ballylinan
Co. Laois
Tel: 089 2161320
Manager: Ann Blake
Corrig
Stradbally
Co. Laois R32 YORX
Mob: 087 226 7042
Manager: Edel Graham
Old Convent
Rathdowney
Co. Laois
165 The Hermitage
Portlaoise
Co. Co. Laois R32 T850
Tel: 057 86 67842
Manager: Niamh Walshe
8 The Garden Village
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Tel: 057 86 20518
Manager: Niamh Walshe
Maryborough Village
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Tel: 057 86 85161
Manager: Niamh Walshe
Old Boys School
Durrow
Co. Laois
Mob: 087 238 9140
Manager: Sheila Clancy
St. Marys School Hall
Church Avenue
Stradbally
Co. Laois
Mob: 087 784 7898
Manager: Sheila Conroy
Main Street
Ballybrittas
Co. Laois
The Thatch
Killenard
Co. Laois R32 NNP8
Tel: 057 86 45005
Manager: Sinead Boland/ Valerie Keating
95 Loughgate
Portarlington
Co. Laois R32 PK12
Tel: 057 86 40496
Manager: Sinead Boland/Valerie Keating
St Fiaccs Primary School
Killeshin Road
Graiguecullen
Co. Co. Laois
Clough Hall
Clough
Ballacolla
Co. Laois
Rath Community Centre
Ballybrittas
Co. Laois R32 N2NO
Mob: 086 369 0305
Manager: Colette Behan
Fr Breen Park
Abbeyleix
Co. Laois
28 Bruach Na Habann
Killeen
Maganey
Co. Laois R93 XD42
Church Street
Ballinakill
Co. Laois
Mob: 086 3685308
Manager: Sandra Lacey
Whitefields
Station Road
Portarlington
Co. Laois
Crann Nua
Edenderry Road
Portarlington
Co. Laois
Rosenallis Community Centre
Rosenallis
Co. Laois R32 VK64
Harbour Street
Mountmellick
Co. Laois R32 KV25
Tel: 057 86 97973
Manager: Michelle Bowes
Ballyroan Community Hall
Ballyroan
Co. Laois
Tel: 085 1056879
Leader: Aimee Ryan
Killadooley
Ballybrophy
Co. Laois
Tel: 050 544 890
Manager: Mary Ellen
Dublin Road
Portlaoise
Co. Laois R32 TX33
48 Glenbarrow
Ballyfin Road
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Tel: 057 86 62708
Manager: Phil Dowling
Camross Village
Camross
Camross
Co. Laois
Raheen Village
Raheen
Co. Laois
Tower Hill
Church Street
Portlaoise
Co. Laois R32 V027
Mooreville
Rathdowney
Co. Laois R32 P2K8
Lisduff
Errill
Co. Laois
Tel: 0505 44961
Manager: Rosaleen Fairbrother
Galesquarter
Cullahill
Co. Laois
Mob: 087 641 3478
Manager: Aishling Saunders
41A Rochford Manor
Graiguecullen
Co. Carlow
Mob: 087 622 9471
Manager: Mags Enright
Dublin Road
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Mob: 086 365 0708
Manager: Audrey Whelan
Kilminchy Village
Kilminchy
Portlaoise
Co. Laois R32PE06
Borris Road
Portlaoise
Co. Laois R32W588
Tel: 089 4555639
Manager: Elaine Gavin
78 Hawthorn Drive
Portlaoise
Co. Laois R32DX26
Tel: 057 866 7997
Manager: Nuala McEvoy & Olivia Kelly
Hollyfield
Acragar
Mountmellick
Co. Laois
Mob: 087 226 4417
Manager: Majella Fitzpatrick
21 Borris Little
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Tel: 057 868 3778
Manager: Monica Delaney
Gort Na nOir
Mountrath Rd
Abbeyleix
Co. Laois
Mob: 086 2333289
Manager: Fionn Bardon
Methodist Hall
Mountmellick
Co. Laois
Mountmellick Development Association Office
Irishtown
Mountmellick
Co. Laois
Tel: 057 86 24601
Mob: 087 6444963
Garoon
Mountmellick
Co. Laois http://www.mountmellickpreschool.ie
Norefield House
Abbeyleix
Co. Laois R32 C6D7
Mob: 086 156 4040
Manager: Patricia Nuzum
Aras Eoghain
OMoore Place
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Mob: 087 354 3906
Manager: Therese Ryan
40 Crossmeem Manor
Leighlin Road
Carlow Town
Co. Laois R93 X5D0
Tel: 059 9169860
Mob: 083 0677688
Church Road
Graiguecullen
Co. Co. Laois
Tel: 089 2799314
Manager: Eleanor Peters
Portarlington Community Centre
Link Road
Portarlington
Co. Laois
Mob: 087 683 2781
Manager: Frances Deverell
Portarlington Community Centre
Link Road
Portarlington
Co. Laois
Mob: 085 1475081
Leader: Carol Rogan
Stradbally Rd
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
34 Heather Hill
Graiguecullen
Carlow Town
Co. Carlow
Tel: 059 918 2227
Manager: Laura Ralph
Cullenbeg Community Centre
Ballycullenbeg
Mountmellick
Co. Laois
Tel: 087 680 2173
Clonincurragh
Mountrath
Co. Laois
Mob: 087 680 2173
Manager: Sandra Timmons
Summerhill Downs
Portlaoise
Co. Laois R32 HX45
Tel: 083 4205566
Manager: Sarah & Amy
Nano Nagle Hall
Aghnaharna Dr
Summer Hill
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Tel: 083 8922865
Manager: Sarah Grange
Scoil Bhride NS
Harper's Lane,
Knockmay
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Tel: 083 8922865
Irey
Ballyfin
Co. Laois
Mob: 087 624 2996
Manager: Kathleen O'Connor
Bracklone Street
Portarlington
Co. Laois
Irishtown
Mountmellick
Co. Laois
Tel: 057 864 4492
Manager: Frances Devoy
The Parish Centre
Newtown
Crettyard
Co. Laois
Old Boys School
Castletown
Co. Laois
Tel: 087 9761233
Manager: Leslie Hogan
Treo Nua
Harpers Lane
Portlaoise
Co. Laois R32 C7DD
Tel: 057 868 6158
De Vesci Court
Fairgreen
Portlaoise
Co. Laois R32 XNG5
44 The Fairways
Abbeyleix
Co. Laois
Tel: 057 873 0001
Manager: Margaret Palmer-Bergin
The Den
Killeshin Community Development Ltd
Killeshin
Co. Carlow
Main Street
Portarlington
Co. Laois R32 VW9H
Kea Lew Business Park
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Tel: 057 8621062
Manger: Monica Delaney
Forest Park
Borris Little
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Tel: 057 868 1762
Manager: Monica Delaney
Killimy
Emo
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Mob: 085 822 5481
Manager: Colette Rigney
Lisduff
Errill
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Tel: 050 544 961
Manager: Rosaleen Fairbrother
41 Blossom Court
Esker Hills
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Bog Road
Ballyroan
Co. Laois
Tel: 057 875 7336
Manager: Edith O'Sullivan
Cappanafeacle
Ballyadams
Athy
Co. Laois
Timahoe
Co. Laois
Boughlone
Mountrath Rd
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Tel: 086 3123596
Manager: Nicola Larkin
St Josephs National School
Borris in Ossory
Portlaoise
Co. Laois
Mob: 086 199 3984
Manager: Elizabeth Ward
Ballymorris Road
Portarlington
Co. Laois
Mob: 086 863 0039
Manager: Bernie Reddin
4 Newline Close
Mountrath
Co. Laois
Mob: 087 416 2377
Manager: Colette Phelan
Cappanarrow
Camross
Co. Laois R32 RX81
Tel: 086 876 1994
Manager: Triinu Tamm
Rahin
Ballylinan
Co. Laois R14 XA78
Mob: 086 6025958
Manager: Beverley Kaye
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. By using this site you agree to our Cookie Policy Ok