Going to primary school

What do you mean by primary and post-primary education?
Do I have to pay to send my child to school? 
When must my child start school? 
At what age can my child leave school? 
Who is responsible for my child attending school? 
Where can I get information on pre-school and early years education? 

What do you mean by primary and post-primary education?

Children attend primary school between the ages of 4 and 12. Primary schools are also known as national schools. Primary education is also referred to as first level education. Primary school covers eight years - a two-year infant cycle followed by six years from first to sixth class.  Children move to the next class at the end of each school year. 

Children from about 12 to 18 years attend a post-primary school.  Post-primary schools include secondary schools, vocational schools and community and comprehensive schools. Post-primary education is also referred to as second level education.

Do I have to pay to send my child to school?

No. In Ireland all children are entitled to free primary and post-primary education. Most primary schools are funded by the state and the vast majority of children attend these schools.

There are a small number of private primary schools. If you decide to send your child to a private school, you will have to pay fees every year.

Children who are new to Ireland (sometimes called newcomers), whether asylum seekers, refugees or children of migrant workers, have the same right to education as other Irish children. They must attend school between the ages of 6 and 16.

When must my child start school?

The law says that every child from the age of 6 must receive an education, whether at home or at school. Most children start school at either 4 or 5 years of age. Your child must be at least 4 years of age at the start of the school year (September) to enrol in primary school.

See also: Can I teach my child at home?

At what age can my child leave school?

The minimum school leaving age is 16 or after three years of post-primary education, whichever is later.

Who is responsible for my child attending school?

Under the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 you are responsible for making sure your children attend school. If a child's parents cannot look after them, a guardian or carer becomes responsible. 

Where can I get information on pre-school and early years education?

Early years education in Ireland covers the period from birth to 6 years.  The State provides early childhood education in infant classes in primary schools. Other early childhood services include:

• full- and part-time day care, such as in crèches; 
• pre-school services such as Montessori, Steiner and High Scope; and
• childminders who mind fewer than three children.

Most childcare providers are covered by the 1997 Pre-school Regulations (which will be replaced by the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 in September 2007). The Department of Health and Children, through the Health Service Executive, monitors providers under these regulations. Childminders looking after fewer than three children are not covered by the regulations, but they can choose to register with the authorities and may take up tax incentives if they do.
 
In December 2005, the Office of the Minister for Children (OMC) was set up to co-ordinate Government policies that affect children. These include early childhood care, education, youth justice and child welfare and protection.  The Early Years Education Policy Unit of the Department of Education works with the OMC on early childhood education.

Quality in pre-school services

In 2002, the Department of Education set up the Centre for Early Childhood Development (CECDE). In 2006, CECDE published Síolta, a National Quality Framework for early childhood education. This sets out to achieve high quality across a range of areas in early education and takes its name from the Irish word for seeds, so expressing the potential of childhood and of the Framework to grow and succeed.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is finalising a Curricular Framework for Early Learning. This aims to give all children an appropriate and enjoyable education from birth to 6 years. 

Pre-school programmes

The Early Start programme is a pre-school programme for 3 and 4 year olds in disadvantaged areas.  Under the action plan Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS), we are working on supports for early childhood education that will add to current childcare services in disadvantaged areas.