Supporting your Children’s Education

Supporting your child’s education can happen in both practical and fun ways. This section lists information and support resources that will help you to learn more about and encourage your child’s learning both at home and in school.

Information and resources on supporting children under 6 with their feelings and encouraging learning and play at home are available from First5.gov.ie.

Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE)

ECCE is a universal two-year preschool programme available to all children within the eligible age range. The programme is provided for three hours per day, five days per week over 38 weeks per year (from September to June).

Access and Inclusion Model (AIM)

AIM is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the ECCE programme. AIM is a child-centred model, providing levels of progressive support based on the needs of the child and the preschool setting. Learn more at aim.gov.ie.

Resources for parents of primary school children

As a parent, you play a key role in your child's education. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has developed a number of resources to help you to support your child's learning in primary school.

Information on the Junior Cycle

The new junior cycle features newly developed subjects and short courses, a focus on key skills, and new approaches to assessment and reporting. Learn more at ncca.ie/en/junior-cycle.

Information on the Senior Cycle

Developments are also underway in the senior cycle, the period of education that follows the junior cycle and is generally taken by students between the ages of 15 and 18. Learn more at ncca.ie/en/senior-cycle.

Curriculum online

The NCCA is changing the way curricula are presented to children and young people. Learn more at curriculumonline.ie.

Help your child learn

Want to help your child learn? helpmykidlearn.ie is packed full of ideas to help your child learn every day.

Right to Read

Right to Read is a national programme to promote literacy and reading development for people of all ages and backgrounds. The programme includes resources to support your child’s reading including the family time at your library initiative and the annual Children's Book Festival.

TESS (Tusla Education Support Service)

Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) works with schools and families to achieve the best educational outcomes for children. You can learn more at TESS.

National Educational Psychological Service

National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) psychologists work with both primary and post-primary schools and are concerned with learning, behaviour, social and emotional development. NEPS psychologists work in partnership with teachers, parents and children in identifying educational needs. They offer a range of services aimed at meeting these needs, for example, supporting individual students (through consultation and assessment), special projects and research.

National Parent’s Council

National Parent’s Council (NPC) supports parents throughout their child’s early and primary school years. Learn more at npc.ie.