The following is a summary of changes to the ECCE programme with effect from September 2018:
- All eligible children will receive two full programme years
- Age of eligibility reduced from 3 years to 2 years and 8 months
- Upper age limit remains 5 years and 6 months
- Number of enrolment points changed from three to one in September
The new measures will fully benefit those born from 2015 onwards whilst those born previous to that will continue to benefit from the expanded programme announced in Budget 2016.
The following table sets out relevant eligibility dates by year of birth:
| Eligibility for ECCE by month of birth and of enrolment in preschool | ||
| Birth Date between | Eligible Enrolment Date(s) | ECCE end date |
| 1st January 2014- 31st March 2014 | 1st April 2017,
1st September 2017+ 1st September 2018 |
June 2019 |
| 1st April 2014 –
31st August 2014 |
1st September 2017 +
1st September 2018 |
June 2019 |
| 1st September 2014-
31st December 2014 |
1st January 2018 +
1st September 2018 |
June 2019 |
| 1st January 2015-31st March 2015 | 1st April 2018,
1st September 2018 + 1st September 2019 |
June 2020 |
| 1st April 2015-
31st December 2015 |
1st September 2018+
1st September 2019 |
June 2020 |
| 1st January 2016- 31st December 2016 | 1st September 2019+
1st September 2020 |
June 2021 |
| 1st January 2017- 31st December 2017 | 1st September 2020+
1st September 2021 |
June 2022 |
| 1st January 2018- 31st December 2018 | 1st September 20201
1st September 2022 |
June 2023 |
| 1st January 2019- 31st December 2019 | 1st September 2022+
1st September 2023 |
June 2024 |