This article focuses on publicly funded, part-time pre-school provision for children aged three to four. It also covers publicly funded provision for disadvantaged two- to three-year-olds. Provision is available for children below these ages but is paid for by parents themselves.

This phase of education is not compulsory.

Accessibility 

Publicly funded, part-time pre-school education is available to children in the year immediately before they start compulsory education, i.e. children aged between 3 years and 3 months and 4 years and 2 months. Participation is voluntary.

Under the Pre-school Education Programme (PSEP), introduced as the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme in 1998/99, the Government aims to offer all children aged 3 to 4 whose parents want it, part-time pre-school provision for 38 weeks during the period September to June, 5 days each week (Monday to Friday) and for at least 2.5  hours each day. These places are available in a range of settings including in grant-aided nursery schools; in nursery classes and units in grant-aided primary schools; and in voluntary and privately-run playgroups. A limited number of places for younger children (aged 2 to 3) may also be available in some settings.

Provision is available for children below these ages but is paid for by parents themselves.

The Education Authority (EA) is responsible for securing sufficient pre-school places, in line with the Education (Northern Ireland) Act 2014. It does this through the Education Authority Pre-School Education Group (EA PEG), which undertakes an annual review of provision at local level in order to ensure that the planning and allocation of pre-school places meets the needs of each area.

Sure Start Developmental Programme for two- to three-year-olds

In addition, Sure Start Services include a programme to help the most disadvantaged two- to- three-year-olds to prepare for pre-school. This includes weekly play sessions at local Sure Start centres and home visits during the year to discuss children’s progress. The programme aims to help children’s emotional and social development, improve their communication and language skills, and encourage their imagination through play.

Admission requirements and choice of ECEC institution

Publicly funded pre-school education is available in nursery schools, primary schools with nursery classes / units, and in some voluntary and private pre-school playgroup settings and day nurseries. This part-time provision is targeted at three- to four-year-olds in the year before they enter compulsory primary education (at the age of four). A limited number of places for younger children may be available in some settings.

Under Section 21 of The Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 parents can express a preference for the pre-school institution they would like their child to attend. However, while it is a government commitment to offer a part-time publicly funded pre-school place to all parents of three- to four-year-old children who would like one, there is no guarantee that a place will be available with a parent’s preferred provider. There are no limits when applying for a funded pre school place but parents are recommended to include at least four preferences. The institutions must be included among the providers listed on the website of the Education Authority (EA), the national body responsible for coordinating pre-school admissions. Institutions must comply with parental preference as far as admissions criteria and their enrolment numbers allow (i.e. they must fill all available places). The Department of Education (DE) determines the number of full- and part-time places available in grant-aided nursery schools and classes.

If an institution has more applications than places available, it must select children for admission using the statutory admissions criteria established under Section 3 of the Pre-School Education in Schools (Admission Criteria) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012. These specify that priority must be given to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, determined by whether their parents receive certain state benefits, in their final pre-school year (aged three to four), and then to other children in their final pre-school year. If all applicants meet the statutory criteria, it is the individual provider’s ‘sub-criteria’ that determine which children are selected for admission. These sub-criteria can include whether the child has a family connection with the school / nursery / playgroup, for example, if a sibling previously attended it, and the distance of a child’s home to the school / playgroup.

The annual admissions procedure is in two stages.

i) Stage One (January - May) deals only with target age children (three- to four-year-olds).

ii) Stage Two (May - June) deals with those target age children who did not secure a place during Stage One and who have now nominated further preferences; new applications from target age children; children resident in the Republic of Ireland; and those children younger than the target age (i.e. aged two to three). 

Parents have a right of appeal to the Independent Appeal Tribunal if they consider that a nursery school or nursery unit within a school has not applied its admissions criteria or has applied them incorrectly. There is no right of appeal to the Tribunal against a decision made by a private or voluntary provider under receipt of government funding to provide pre-school places.

The Education Authority’s School Admissions Guide provides detailed information on the pre-school admissions process, including admissions appeals. The DE also provides guidance for voluntary and private providers offering publicly funded places under the Pre-school Education Programme (PSEP).

Sure Start Developmental Programme for two- to three-year-olds 

Children must be a minimum of two years old on 1 July of the intake year to be considered for this programme in their local area. Parents who would like their child to participate in the programme submit an application and a panel decides which children would benefit most from participating. The requirements of the programme may vary according to the area, but parents are usually required to commit their child to attending regular play sessions at their local Sure Start centre. Parents must also attend some play sessions with their child and agree to accept home visits to discuss their child’s progress.

Age levels and grouping of children 

Children in pre-school settings in Northern Ireland are normally aged between 2 and 4 years. The organisation of teaching groups / classes is determined by individual institutions. Children may be grouped according to age, or be in mixed-aged groups, depending on the numbers of children in specific age groups and the size of classes / groups.

In nursery schools and nursery classes / units attached to primary schools, the recommended staff ratio is 2 members of staff to 26 children in full-time attendance. One member of staff must be a qualified teacher, the other a qualified nursery assistant.

In private and voluntary settings (as established under the provisions of The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995), the ratios are:

• 1 staff member to 4 children for children aged 2 to 3,
• 1 staff member to 8 children for children aged 3 to 5. 

Private and voluntary settings must also arrange for a suitably qualified person to be in charge at all times. Further information regarding staffing requirements under the 1995 legislation is set out in Minimum Standards forChildminding and Daycare for Children Aged Under 12.

Organisation of time 

The Government aims to offer all children in their final pre-school year (3- to 4-year-olds), whose parents want it, free, part-time provision for 38 weeks across the standard school year, that is, September to June. The standard primary school year is followed by nursery schools and classes, and is usually divided into three terms (September to December; January to March/April; April to June). Term dates are agreed each year by the Department of Education (DE) working with the school sector, although there is some flexibility for schools.

Many voluntary and private sector providers are open all year round.

Organisation of the day and week 

Publicly funded pre-school provision for three to four-year-olds is normally available for five sessions per week, for at least two-and-a-half hours per day, either in the morning or afternoon. Sessions are offered Monday to Friday.

Although publicly funded places are usually part-time, some nursery schools and nursery units attached to primary schools offer funded full-time places for at least four-and-a-half hours each school day. Section 22 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 sets out the definition of part-time and full-time places.

Many voluntary and private settings are open for longer hours than the funded minimum. Day nurseries, for example, are usually open from 8am to 6pm every day, excluding weekends. Parents can choose to pay for additional hours – above the funded minimum - if they wish.

Article last updated December 2020.