For every stage of family life
Parent guides
Plain-English answers to the childcare, preschool and school questions Irish parents actually ask, no jargon, just what you need to plan.
Early years & childcare
10 guides
NCS calculator & childcare costs
Estimate your family's weekly childcare subsidy and what is left to pay, using the rules from 31 August 2026.
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How to choose a creche
What to check, the questions to ask on a visit, red flags, and how to read Tusla inspection reports before you pick a creche.
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Childminders in Ireland
What a childminder is, how they differ from a creche, the new Tusla registration rules, and claiming the NCS subsidy through one.
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What is Montessori?
The Montessori approach explained, child-led learning, mixed ages, and how it fits Irish preschools and the free ECCE year.
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The ECCE scheme explained
Ireland's free preschool programme, who qualifies, the age rules, how many hours and how to claim your place.
Read guide National Childcare Scheme (NCS) explained
How the childcare subsidy works, universal vs income-assessed, what drives the amount and how to apply.
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Childcare costs in Ireland
What drives the price of a creche place, and how ECCE, the NCS subsidy and Core Funding fee caps lower your bill.
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Settling your child into creche
How the phased settling-in period works, plus practical tips, comfort objects, goodbye routines and easing separation anxiety.
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After-school care in Ireland
Minding primary-school children before and after school, after-school clubs, breakfast clubs, childminders, and help with the cost.
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Summer childcare options
School and term-time preschool stop for the summer, how working parents cover the long break with camps, creches and childminders.
Read guideStarting school
6 guides
When to apply for primary school (2027)
There's no single national date, here's when to actually apply for a September 2027 place and how the process works.
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School admissions & enrolment
How school places work, admission policies, fair selection when oversubscribed, no application fees, and how to appeal a refusal.
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Starting school checklist
Everything to sort before your child starts junior infants, from the uniform to the skills that help them settle.
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Gaelscoileanna explained
Irish-medium schools and how immersion works, why you don't need Irish at home, the naíonra feeder, and if a gaelscoil suits you.
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Back-to-school costs
What families pay each August for uniforms, books and fees, plus the Back to School Allowance, free schoolbooks and ways to save.
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The School Transport Scheme
How the Bus Éireann school bus scheme works, who qualifies by distance, eligible vs concessionary tickets, and how to apply.
Read guideSecondary school
4 guides
The Junior Cycle explained
Ireland's first three years of secondary school, subjects, Classroom-Based Assessments, the final exams, grade descriptors and the JCPA.
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Transition Year explained
The optional fourth year of secondary school, what TY involves, whether it's compulsory in your school, and how to decide.
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The Leaving Cert explained
Ireland's final second-level exam, the three programmes, Higher and Ordinary levels, grading and how it converts into CAO points.
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Grinds & tutoring
What 'grinds' mean in Ireland, the types, when tutoring genuinely helps, how to choose a good tutor, and free alternatives.
Read guideSupport & family life
2 guides
Special educational needs support
How Irish schools support children with additional needs, the NCSE, extra teaching, SNAs, special classes, and how to get help.
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Kids' birthday party ideas
Party ideas that suit each age from 2 to 12, what the main venue types cost and involve, and how far ahead to book.
Read guideGuides last reviewed 5 July 2026. These are general information to help you plan, not official advice, scheme rules, dates and amounts change, so always confirm the current details with the relevant scheme or school.