Early Years Service
Our early years service is dedicated to supporting children and families through high-quality, affordable early years care — fostering development, confidence and a lifelong love of learning through a play-based approach.
Who we are & What we offer
Our early years service is a dedicated purpose-built childcare setting providing affordable, high-quality care and education for children aged 3 months to 5 years. We are committed to creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment where every child feels valued, respected and supported.
We provide a warm, safe, caring, stimulating, healthy and happy environment for children. Parents and children are treated with great respect and understanding, and encouraged and helped to reach their full potential.
We believe in parental engagement to best support the child's development — through weekly coffee mornings, daily feedback to parents, yearly parent/practitioner meetings, informative workshops, home child-parent programmes and various nursery events throughout the year.
Five age-matched spaces, each designed around a child's stage of development.
Baby Room
3 months – 1 year
Wobble Room
1 – 2 years
Toddler Rooms
2 – 3 years
ECCE Year 1
3 – 4 years
ECCE Year 2
4 – 5 years
Three session options to suit every family.
Sessional Care
- 8.45 am – 12.15 pm
- 12.45 pm – 4.15 pm
ECCE
- 8.45 am – 11.45 am
- 12.45 pm – 3.45 pm
Full Day Care
- 8.45 am – 3.45 pm
Curriculum
Our early years service provides a nurturing, inclusive and stimulating environment for children aged 3 months to 5 years. We are grounded in the principles of play-based learning, recognising that children learn best through exploration, curiosity and meaningful interactions.
We follow Aistear, the national early childhood curriculum framework, which guides our practice across four key themes. Through these themes, we support each child's holistic development — socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively.
Our approach values each child as a unique individual. We build strong, responsive relationships with children and their families, ensuring that care is respectful, consistent and tailored to each stage of development — from infancy through to preschool.
Four themes guide everything we do — from cuddles with babies to preschool problem-solving.
Well-being
Health, happiness and a secure sense of self.
Identity & Belonging
Knowing who they are and feeling valued by their community.
Communicating
Sharing ideas and feelings through words, play and creative expression.
Exploring & Thinking
Curiosity, problem-solving and early literacy and numeracy through discovery.
Play is at the heart of everything we do. Babies are supported through sensory-rich experiences and warm, attentive care that fosters secure attachments. Toddlers are encouraged to explore their growing independence through active play and guided discovery. Preschool children engage in more complex play, developing language, creativity, problem-solving and early literacy and numeracy skills in a natural and enjoyable way.
Our educators carefully observe, plan and extend children's learning through both child-led and adult-supported activities. Our environments — both indoors and outdoors — are thoughtfully designed to encourage curiosity, imagination and a lifelong love of learning.
At St. Ultan's we are committed to creating a safe, welcoming community where every child feels valued, confident and supported to reach their full potential.
Fees
Affordable, high-quality early years care — with significant subsidies available through the National Childcare Scheme.
Help with the cost of childcare
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a government programme in Ireland that helps families with the cost of childcare. Through the scheme, parents can receive financial support to make early learning and care more affordable.
- Universal subsidyAvailable for all families with children under 15, regardless of income.
- Income-assessed subsidyExtra support for families based on their household income.
Useful Links & Documents
Everything you need to apply, stay informed and plan the week — in one place.
Application Form
Start the enrolment process online.
Policies
Parents handbook with key early years policies and safeguarding statement.
Calendars
ECCE calendar and Nursery calendar — term dates and closures.
Menu
Weekly dinner menu and snack menu prepared on-site.
Meet the Early Years Team
The people behind every cuddle, every activity and every learning moment.
Amanda McCoy
Care Service Manager
Ashley Lawlor
Early Years Coordinator
Suzanne Sharpe
Early Years Coordinator
Sandra Kilbride
Team Mentor
Our Rooms, Garden & Daily Life
General views of our rooms, garden areas and children engaged in activities — never showing any child's identity.
Interested in our Early Years Service?
Get in touch to learn more about our rooms, the ECCE programme, fees and the NCS, or to arrange a visit to our Cherry Orchard campus.