National Pyjama Day 2026

Join us for the 2nd Eco-Emotions webinar, The Art of Noticing, 7pm -8pm, Wednesday, 15 July

In this session, Sarah Keller, an Adult Education Teacher from Kerry College, will discuss the role of Early Year educators to support children’s observational skills in the outdoors.
Free Eco-Emotions member webinar! Register here
Our new ECI Professional Learning Hub will launch next month. The certificates your have already gained will not automatically transfer.

We ask that you please download any certificates you may need from the current Learning Hub for both you and your staff.
Action needed: Download your certificates Find out more
This week we share information on:

• Acceptable proof of qualifications

• New Regulatory Notice on anti-choking devices

• QIPP Report 2025/2026 Reporting Deadline

and more.

Quality Support Services Update 7 July 2026 Read more
First Event of Early Childhood Ireland’s Budget 2027 Campaign

This week our Budget 2027 campaign kicked off with a CEO briefing for key Oireachtas members about the need to prioritise the Early Years and School Age Care workforce.
Policy in Action Update: Meet the CEO Read more
How to track your Garda Vetting applications and avoid unnecessary delays

This week we are discussing how to track your Garda Vetting applications effectively and top tips to avoid delays.
Garda Vetting Update Read more
The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) report focuses on Early Years Education for children under 3 years, using data from TALIS Starting Strong Survey.

This week we embark on the first of a two part series examining the new report.
An overview of the new OECD report on Early Years Education
Read more
Making the News: National Pyjama Day 2026

Member Services

Garda Vetting is a legal requirement under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 for the vetting of persons carrying out relevant work with children 

The Early Years Employers Service (EYES) is a service dedicated to focusing on our member’s needs. Members get easy access to expert advice and guidance on all areas of operating

The Learning Hub is Early Childhood Ireland’s eLearning platform, which aims to empower and support our members and their educators to not only help meet regulatory requirements but also to build professional knowledge and skills among their staff.

View a range of employment opportunities in the early childhood care and education sector.

Become A Member

Join Early Childhood Ireland today and become part of the leading organisation in the sector working to ensure quality experiences for children in Early Years and School Age Care settings.

As an organisation, we are fully committed to supporting you to provide quality experiences for children. Our strategies are based on professional experience and on national and international research, policy and best practice. We combine the extensive knowledge and experiences of our membership with wider professional and academic pedagogical expertise. Your insight informs the services and support we offer and the public policy and investment changes that are necessary. 

As a member, you will also benefit from our extensive range of services and supports.

Member Services

Garda Vetting is a legal requirement under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 for the vetting of persons carrying out relevant work with children 

The Early Years Employers Service (EYES) is a service dedicated to focusing on our member’s needs. Members get easy access to expert advice and guidance on all areas of operating

Early Childhood Ireland strives to inform, facilitate, inspire and empower our members to provide consistently high-quality early learning and care and school age childcare services for children and their families

View a range of employment opportunities in the early childhood care and education sector.

Become A Member

Join Early Childhood Ireland today and become part of the leading organisation in the sector working to ensure quality experiences for children in early learning and care and school age childcare settings.

As an organisation, we are fully committed to supporting you to provide quality experiences for children. Our strategies are based on professional experience and on national and international research, policy and best practice. We combine the extensive knowledge and experiences of our membership with wider professional and academic pedagogical expertise. Your insight informs the services and support we offer and the public policy and investment changes that are necessary. 

As a member, you will also benefit from our extensive range of services and supports.

Learning

SharingKnowledgeWeb2021-Stock

Early Childhood Ireland exchanges and shares knowledge actions and projects that link to our strategic plan that strives for every child.

Publications.jpg

Early Childhood Ireland produces a suite of publications in the areas of research and pedagogy unique to Ireland.

LearningPartnerships2021

Early Childhood Ireland works to develop partnerships at home and abroad through a range of initiatives and projects. 

Learning

sharing-knowledge.jpg

Early Childhood Ireland exchanges and shares knowledge actions and projects that link to our strategic plan that strives for every child.

Publications.jpg

Early Childhood Ireland produces a suite of publications in the areas of research and pedagogy unique to Ireland.

partnerships.jpg

Early Childhood Ireland works to develop partnerships at home and abroad through a range of initiatives and projects. 

eLearning.jpg

Early Childhood Ireland uses a variety of tools to share and deliver current thinking to the Early Learning and Care and School Aged Childcare sector. 

About Us

Early Childhood Ireland is the leading membership organisation in the Early Years and School Age Care sector, focused on our compelling vision of putting the child at the centre of our work. Early Childhood Ireland has a strong track record which spans over five decades and we are currently delivering on our Strategic Plan 2021 to 2026.

We currently have over 3,800 members, who support over 120,000 children and their families through preschool, afterschool, and full day-care provision nationwide. Our work includes quality enhancement, communications and publications, advocacy, training, support and information for a sector that employs over 25,000 people

About Us

Early Childhood Ireland is the largest organisation in the early years sector. We represent 3,800 childcare members, who support over 100,000 children and their families through preschool, afterschool, and full day-care provision nationwide. Our work includes quality enhancement, publications, advocacy, training, business support & information for a sector that employs 25,000 people today.

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Latest news

Why Garda Vetting applications get delayed?

Why Garda Vetting applications get delayed?

Avoidable mistakes Avoidable mistakes during the National Vetting Bureau (NVB) application process remains one of the most common causes of…
Early Years and School Age Care in Budget 2027

Early Years and School Age Care in Budget 2027

Ahead of the publication of our own Budget 2027 Submission, we have been reviewing proposals relating to Early Years and…
Making the News: National Pyjama Day 2026, Eco-Emotions

Making the News: National Pyjama Day 2026, Eco-Emotions

In June, we were thrilled to announce that over €311,000 was raised during Early Childhood Ireland’s annual fundraiser, National Pyjama…

Latest news

Why Garda Vetting applications get delayed?

Why Garda Vetting applications get delayed?

Avoidable mistakes Avoidable mistakes during the National Vetting Bureau (NVB) application process remains one of the most common causes of…
Early Years and School Age Care in Budget 2027

Early Years and School Age Care in Budget 2027

Ahead of the publication of our own Budget 2027 Submission, we have been reviewing proposals relating to Early Years and…
Making the News: National Pyjama Day 2026, Eco-Emotions

Making the News: National Pyjama Day 2026, Eco-Emotions

In June, we were thrilled to announce that over €311,000 was raised during Early Childhood Ireland’s annual fundraiser, National Pyjama…

Action needed: Download your certificates

Our new ECI Professional Learning Hub will launch next month. The certificates you have already gained will not automatically transfer.

We ask that you please download any certificates you may need from the current Learning Hub for both you and your staff.