Discovering Ireland 2020

Education Overview

All children living in Ireland have the right to education, this includes refugees, asylum seekers, or children of migrant workers. They are also entitled to free pre-school, primary and secondary education, but you will still need to pay for the uniform, books, stationary and for any school trips. There are also private schools where you will need to pay fees every year. School uniforms are quite common in all levels of school but vary from school to school.

Although it is most common for children to commence primary school at aged four or five, education is compulsory for all children in Ireland from the ages of six to 16 or until students have completed three years of second level education including one sitting of the Junior Certificate examination. Ireland offers a range of school types from private to public, co-educational to single sex, but some areas may have more limited options.

You can prepare ahead for school enrolment by providing the following general documentation: + Birth certificate + Passport + PPS number + Previous school reports (if applicable) Childcare and Preschool Pre-school is optional in Ireland. Under the Early Childhood Care and Education or ECCE scheme children are entitled up to two years of free pre-schooling, in the year prior to starting primary schools. Prior to this, parents must pay for their children to attend to school, there are options to find private daycare. The scheme provides three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks and children must be aged between two years eight months and five years six months, especially on September the first of the year that they commence. If your child attends the care service for longer than this, then you will be charged for that extra time.

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Discovering Ireland