Mission Statement
To provide a planned programme of care and pre-school education in a child-centred play-based environment, which will empower young children to actively pursue their learning and develop their own understanding and knowledge in life.
Early Childhood Care & Education Programme (ECCE)
The ECCE programme is a universal 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. From September 2018 the ECCE Scheme will be made available to all children over the age of 2 years 8 months.
The National Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NCS)
This subsidy is open for all families with children from 24 weeks and 15 years who are attending a Tulsa registered childcare service. It is based on the household income and allowances are made at an hourly rate along with a maximum number of hours for which this rate is payable. More information can be found on www.ncs.gov.ie.
Access and Inclusion Model (AIM)
AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, based on the needs of the child and the service provider. For many children, the universal supports offered under the model will be sufficient. For others, one particular discrete support may be required to enable participation in pre-school, such as access to a piece of specialised equipment. For a small number, a suite of different services and supports may be necessary. In other words, the model is designed to be responsive to the needs of each individual child in the context of their pre-school setting. It will offer tailored, practical supports based on need and will not require a formal diagnosis of disability.
Community Services Programme (CSP)
“This project is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and Pobal through the Community Services Programme”