The Health Services Executive  have produced a Guide to Parents of Pre-school Children. This leaflet is available by contacting the Pre-school Services Officers of the Health Services Executive on 051-842800.

The Childcare Forum of Waterford City have also produced an information leaflet for parents which is available from the Waterford Area Partnership and the City Childcare Committee.

Waterford City Childcare Committee provides advice and support to parents of children with disabilities and refers parents to support organisations eg HSE and those providing supports for specific disabilities eg WASSA, Down’s Syndrome Ireland.

The Committee organises training and advice for Childcare Services on inclusion and mainstreaming of children with disabilities into childcare.

Children with Disabilities accessing the free pre-school (ECCE) year

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme makes a number of provisions to facilitate children with disabilities and special needs.

• The upper age limit of 4 years 6 months is waived where children have been assessed as being developmentally delayed or where they have a physical, sensory or mental condition which will result in them starting school at a later than normal age.
• Provision is also made to enable children who have been assessed as having a disability, and who would benefit from attending pre-school for 2/3 days rather than 5 days each week, to be eligible over 2 years e.g. 2 days in year 1 and 3 days in year 2.

Interested parents should register their child in a childcare service of their choice and should then write to the Childcare Directorate, DCYA with a copy of the HSE assessment of their child or a letter from  a treating consultant as evidence of developmental delay and/or disability.To download copy of the HSE Leaflet Assessing your Child’s Needs please click on Leaflet_Disability_Act

Applications will be considered on a case by case basis.

To download the Directory of Parent Supports and Services in Waterford City please click here