Community Employment Early Learning and Care Programme

The Community Employment (CE) Early Learning and Care (ELC) Programme helps people who want a career in Early Learning and Care (previously childcare). It gives them training, real work experience, and the chance to earn qualifications in the ELC sector.

In December 2021, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, published ‘Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC), 2022-2028’ (Nurturing-skills: The Workforce Plan). This plan aims to continue the process of professionalisation in the ELC and SAC sectors.

In 2021 new ELC awards were introduced. These include a NFQ Level 5 Major Award and a NFQ Level 6 Major Award , each award can take up to two years to complete. The older Common Awards System (CAS) based Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) awards were phased out and finished in 2023.

The CE Early Learning and Care Programme Framework, updated in 2025, adheres to the Síolta and Aistear standards.

If you are interested in applying for a place on a CE ELC project contact your local Employment Services Office or your local Intreo Centre. They will set up a meeting to speak with someone in Employment Services in the Department of Social Protection.

At this meeting, they will explain the CE ELC Programme. If you meet the conditions your name will be passed on to a local CE ELC project supervisor.

OR

Alternatively, you can apply for a CE ELC vacancy on www.jobsireland.ie.

The CE ELC project supervisor will interview you and discuss your interest in working with children. If you are successful, you will be offered a place on the programme and registered for CE.

If you decide that Early Learning and Care is not for you, you can talk again to your local Employment Services Officer or local Intreo Officer about other options.

Garda vetting is a requirement for this programme.

The CE Early Learning and Care Programme will have three phases as outlined below.

Phase 1: Introduction to the Early Learning and Care Programme QQI Level 5 Major Award

In Phase 1 you will commit to starting and achieving an ELC QQI Level 5 Major Award. This stage is for learners who want to start a professional career in the Early Years sector working directly with children from 0-6 years.

During this training, you will be supervised on a CE ELC project and have access to an early learning and care environment. The ELC QQI Level 5 Major Award is the professional qualification required to work with children from 0-6 years.

Phase 1 combines learning outside of CE working hours, in your own time, with opportunities for supported learning during CE working hours.

Supported learning includes early learning and care related tasks such as setting up the room or crèche in the morning and assisting with mealtimes. This will help you to see good practice in action while you train. The Manager of the Early Learning and Care service will lead, supervise and monitor this learning period.

The CE Individual Learner Plan (ILP) records all the learning that takes place at this stage.

Phase 2: Completion of the Early Learning and Care Programme QQI Level 5 Major Award

When you start Phase 2 you will already be studying or committed to achieving an ELC QQI Level 5 Major Award. You will already have an Individual Learner Plan (ILP) in place.

This phase includes six modules which link theory and practice. You must complete a minimum of 150 hours of practice placement in two ELC settings:

• 0 to 2-years-and-8-months
• 2-years-and-8-months to 6 years

A minimum of 50 hours must be completed with children in each setting.

In Phase 2, you will work to achieve the full ELC QQI Level 5 Major Award. When you complete it, you will have the knowledge, skills and competence to work on your own and as part of a team, with the direction and guidance of a supervisor.

You will continue to work under the direction and supervision of an experienced Early Years Educator/Lead Educator/Manager. Mentoring and learner support will be a key feature of Phase 1 and Phase 2.

Because of the training involved, you can stay on the Early Learning and Care programme for up to 3 years. This depends on your successful participation in the training and work experience programme.

Phase 1 and Phase 2 will also help you to get work experience outside the project to build your skills and improve your chances of getting a job.

At this stage you may exit the CE ELC Programme to get full-time employment as an Early Years Educator. This will involve an intensive job search under the guidance of the CE Supervisor. Alternatively, you may progress to Phase 3.

Phase 3: Progression to a Lead Educator

When you have successfully completed Phase 1 and 2 you will have achieved an ELC QQI Level 5 Major Award and be qualified as an Early Years Educator.

In Phase 3 you can gain more experience as an Early Years Educator while on CE and give extra support to the Early Learning and Care centre.

If you want to continue training and work toward an ELC QQI Level 6 Major Award, this may be possible. This can happen as long as no one else is prevented from getting the ELC QQI Level 5 Major Award.

You may be able to stay on the CE ELC project for 52 more weeks. The combined time spent on the programme can be a maximum of four years (including the three years spent in Phase 1 and Phase 2).

The CE Early Learning and Care Programme will provide you with:

• a weekly rate of pay, linked to your underlying payment, together with a top-up, click here for further information.
• quality work experience.
• training linked to the National Framework of Qualifications.
• a clear career path and qualifications in the Early Learning and Care sector.
• strong links between participation on CE and employment opportunities in the Early Learning and Care sector.

Contact Details:

local Intreo Centre or Citizens Information Centre

• Community Employment Programme