Shaping the Future - How Pre-School education is transforming lives in Ireland

• Watch on Virgin Media Television
• 29 August 2026
• 12:00 PM

Discover the story of Ireland's State-funded national pre-school programme, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme.

Featuring the experiences of early years educators, families and children across Ireland, it highlights how the programme is supporting children’s learning, development and well-being while helping to shape the future young lives of our nation.

A Million Children. Hundreds of Thousands of Families. Thousands of Early Years Educators. Working Together. Shaping the Future.

Since its introduction in 2010, the State funded Pre-School programme has given more than one million children the opportunity to benefit from high-quality pre-school education.

In Shaping the Future, viewers are taken inside pre-school settings across Ireland to see the positive impact these experiences have on children's development, confidence, friendships and readiness for school.

Real Stories from Across Ireland

The documentary showcases real-life examples of inspiring practice in pre-school settings, highlighting:

• The experiences of children participating in the State-funded Pre-School programme
• The warm and nurturing relationships between children and their early years educators
• The trusted partnerships between families and early years educators
• Inclusive early learning experiences for all children, including children with disabilities
• The dedication, professionalism and expertise of early years educators

Celebrating the People Behind Early Learning

At the heart of every child's early learning journey are passionate, highly qualified educators who create nurturing, engaging and inclusive environments.

Shaping the Future celebrates the professionalism, expertise and dedication of early years educators across Ireland, while highlighting the rewarding and meaningful career opportunities available within the Early Learning and Care sector. If you are interested in learning more about careers in the sector, training pathways and available supports, visit Nurturing Skills for further information and resources.

Currently, 39% of early years educators working in pre-school services are qualified to degree level in Early Childhood Care and Education.

Shaping the Future

A celebration of early childhood, high quality pre-school and the people helping young children in Ireland get the best possible start in life.

• Virgin Media Television
• Saturday, 29 August 2026
• 12:00 PM

Don't miss this inspiring look at the impact of pre-school across Ireland.

Participating Services

Shaping the Future was filmed across four pre-school settings, each of which reflects the diversity, quality and commitment that characterise pre-school provision in Ireland.

The participating services featured in the documentary are:

• Fairy Folk Montessori, Kilkenny
• Kilcullen Community Childcare & Education Centre, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare
• The Willows Nursery, Abbeyknockmoy, Galway
• Wigwams, The Curragh,Co. Kildare

Also featuring children from Nurture Childcare, Tallaght Hospital.

The Department would like to acknowledge and thank the children, families, educators and service providers who generously shared their experiences and supported the development of this documentary.