Education Supports
We offer a number of supports that can help parents, children and young people in education.
Career Guidance
Young people often face disruptions to their education during and after treatment, including absence from school and / or reduced school attendance, as well as challenges such as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, memory issues and anxiety. Research shows these factors can affect their education and career options in the long term.
Our Career Guidance Programme is designed to support students through these challenges by connecting students with a qualified and experienced Career Guidance Counsellor to help them choose subjects, explore career paths and make informed decisions about their future.
How to apply
Please complete this short form and we will be in touch to match you with a career guidance counsellor.
DARE
DARE stands for Disability Access Route to Education. Students who have or had cancer are eligible to apply for this scheme, which aims to compensate the impact that cancer may have had on their education.
Webinars
You may be interested in catching up on some of our webinars on education.
Please note that these webinars were recorded with 2025 deadlines in mind so always check current deadlines for DARE and the CAO.
Institute of Education
The Institute of Education is a nationally and internationally-recognised second level school based in Lower Leeson St, Dublin 2. It offers full-time education to 4th – 6th year students, as well as part-time courses and grinds for 2nd – 6th year students.
Childhood Cancer Ireland students can access free part-time courses and grinds, recognising the impact of a cancer diagnosis on a young person’s education, both in terms of school attendance and possible need for additional support.
All courses are online and students can enrol in a maximum of two subjects.
How to apply
Please email supports@childhoodcancer.ie for more information and an application form.
Please be aware that you will be asked to provide a letter confirming your child’s diagnosis as part of the application process. This letter can be from your child’s GP, social worker or consultant.
Understanding the DARE application
In this webinar, we are joined by Ann Marie Curran, Disability Outreach Officer with University of Galway, who explains the DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) entry route into third level education.
Ann Marie explores the application, the documentation required, deadlines and completing your personal statement.
Completing the CAO
Ann Marie Curran, Disability Outreach Officer, University of Galway is back to talk us through completing the CAO form, ahead of the Feb 1st deadline. In this session we explore the application process, as well as looking at important dates.
CAO Change of Mind and Supports at Third Level
Ann Marie Curran , Disability Outreach Officer, University of Galway guides us through the CAO change of mind process and explores the supports that are available at 3rd level to help students transition to college life.
Further Education and Training
In this webinar we explore options for further education and training for young people moving on from secondary school. Further education offers a huge range of courses nationwide. We are joined by Pat Buckley and Helen Wade, Adult Guidance Counsellors with over 20 years’ experience supporting people into education and employment.