What age groups do ACE Schools cater for?
Children can enter the ACE system at age 4 or 5 and proceed through pre-school level right up to Leaving Certificate level. However, An Charraig is recommending entry at age 5 because ACE Pre-school is not pre-school as Irish parents know it, but rather Pre-ACE in that it consists of a highly structured, organised introduction to the ACE curriculum and method with a heavy emphasis on phonics. Experience has shown that some children entering the system at 4 yrs of age present with difficulties further down the line as they are not mature enough to exercise the self-discipline required to sit still, listen, work the PACEs etc. In other words, they should be nurtured in a more play-based program until the age of 5. Children entering ACE at the age of 5 are much less likely to experience difficulties within the program in later years.
