Help your child to get a good start!

This page shows the most frequently asked questions and answers in relation to pre-school education.

1. How many funded pre-school places are there in Northern Ireland?
2. What age should children be to enter pre-school education?
3. Where are free pre-school education places available?
4. Where can I find out about free places in my area?
5. When and how should I apply for a free place for my child?
6. Should I list more than one provider on my application form?
7. What documents will I need?
8. My child’s name is already on a list for admission to pre-school education. Do I need to fill in an application form for a free place?
9. How do pre-school education centres decide who gets a free place?
10. Why are these children given priority in these circumstances?
11. What provision has been made for children with special educational needs?
12. How can I be sure that the education being offered is of a high standard?
13. When will my child be able to attend?
14. When will I know if my child has a place?
15. Should I arrange for my child to transfer from a free pre-school place to a reception class in a primary school from his or her 4th birthday?
16. What do I do if my child does not receive a free place?
Education and Library Board contacts

1. How many funded pre-school places are there in Northern Ireland?

In September 2007, free places will be available for over 90 percent of children in their immediate pre-school year. Since some parents will not wish their children to participate in pre-school education, this number should be sufficient to enable all parents who do to obtain free pre-school places. All parents who have children who will be entering their immediate pre-school year in September 2007 are encouraged to apply. It should be noted, however, that pre-school education is a non-compulsory phase of education and whilst it is the Department's aim to provide a free place for all children in their final pre-school year, whose parents wish it, there is no guarantee that your child will receive a funded place.

2. What age should children be to enter pre-school education?

Pre-school education is designed for children in the year immediately before they enter Primary 1. This year, that means children born between 2 July 2003 and 1 July 2004 inclusive who reach their 3rd birthday on or before 1 July 2007.

3. Where are free pre-school education places available?

In a range of pre-school education centres including:

nursery schools;
nursery classes/units in primary schools; and
voluntary and private playgroups and day nurseries which are part of the expansion programme (these centres may also offer places for which parents pay).

These places are available for the full school year starting on 1 September 2007.

4. Where can I find out about free places in my area?

Information about free places is available by contacting your local Education and Library Board whose addresses and telephone numbers you can access using the link.

5. When and how should I apply for a free place for my child?

The closing date for applications to all pre-school education centres is 12 noon on 24 January 2007. The application procedure allows you to list, on a single form, in order of preference, all pre-school centres (nursery school, playgroup, etc) to which you wish to apply for a funded pre-school place for your child. The application form is available from any pre-school centre or your local Education and Library Board.

You simply list the pre-school education centres in order of preference and return the form to your first preference centre by the closing date. Under no circumstances should you complete more than one application form.

6. Should I list more than one provider on my application form?

Yes – you should list, in order of preference, all centres you wish your child to be considered for admission. There is no guarantee that you will be successful in obtaining a place at your first preference centre as they may receive more applications than they have funded places. It should be noted that in order to receive free pre-school places voluntary playgroups must have at least 8 children who are in their final pre-school year enrolled in the centre. If a playgroup is unable to meet this requirement they will be withdrawn from the Programme. A booklet listing all pre-school provision in your area is available from your local Education and Library Board.

7. What documents will I need?

You should present your child’s birth certificate with your application form. If you are claiming priority because of social disadvantage, you will need to take your form to your local Social Security Office to be stamped.

8. My child’s name is already on a list for admission to pre-school education. Do I need to fill in an application form for a free place?

Yes – All parents seeking free places for their children from September 2007 must complete an application form.

9. How do pre-school education centres decide who gets a free place?

If a centre has enough free places, all eligible children whose parents apply will receive them. If centres have more applications than free places, they must then apply published admissions criteria, giving priority in the first instance to:

children from socially disadvantaged circumstances (whose parents receive Income Support or income-based Jobseekers’ Allowance); and
children with 4th birthdays from 2 July 2007 to 31 August 2007 inclusive.

10. Why are these children given priority in these circumstances?

Research has shown that children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds tend to experience more difficulty at school than other children. Children with July and August birthdays are given priority because they might not otherwise receive any education until after they are five. There will, however, be plenty of places available for other children.

11. What provision has been made for children with special educational needs?

Once the requirement to give priority to socially disadvantaged children and those with July/August birthdays is satisfied, providers must set their own criteria and nursery schools and classes may give priority to children with special educational needs should they wish. In addition, Education and Library Boards may, where appropriate, place children with Statements of Special Educational Needs in pre-school education which meets their particular needs.

12. How can I be sure that the education being offered is of a high standard?

All funded pre-school education centres must:

follow common curricular guidance to plan and organise the children’s learning;
meet minimum standards for staff qualifications and staffing levels;
have expert support from a qualified teacher or early years specialist;
be inspected regularly by the Education and Training Inspectorate; and
make inspection findings available to parents.

13. When will my child be able to attend?

Most places will be available:

at least two and a half hours per day;
five days per week; and
for at least 38 weeks during the period September to June.

Some nursery schools and classes may offer full-time places (around four hours, with lunch available). If both part-time and full-time places are available, parents may express a preference when applying but no guarantee can be given that this preference will be met.

14. When will I know if my child has a place?

The centre which is offering your child a place will write to you in the first week of May.

15. Should I arrange for my child to transfer from a free pre-school place to a reception class in a primary school from his or her 4th birthday?

This would not be in your child’s best interests. Transferring your child to a reception class during the year is disruptive to his or her educational and social development and should be avoided. In addition, advice from the Department’s Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) is that, while some reception provision is of a good standard, the quality of provision across the sector is uneven.

16. What do I do if my child does not receive a free place?

Non-funded places, for which parents pay, will continue to be available in most playgroups and private day nurseries. Parents should contact these centres directly for further information.

Education and Library Board Contacts

For further information on where free pre-school education places are located in your area and for copies of application forms, contact your local Education and Library Board.

You can also obtain this information in a leaflet by telephoning local: 028 9127 9634 and international: +44 (0)28 9127 9634.