Applying for a Funded Pre-School Place - 2013/14
Applying for a funded pre-school education place - 2013/14
References to Education and Library Boards throughout should be interpreted as applying equally to the Education and Skills Authority (ESA) once it comes into operation.
Who can apply for a funded pre-school place?
The Pre-school Education Programme (2013/14) is targeted at children born on or between 2 July 2009 and 1 July 2010 who will reach their 3rdbirthday on or before 1 July 2013. Pre-school education is a non-compulsory phase of education. Whilst it is a Programme for Government commitment to ensure that at least one year of pre-school education is available to every family that wants it, there is no guarantee that a funded place will be available at your preferred pre-school provider.
Where are funded pre-school education places available?
In a range of pre-school education providers, including:
- nursery schools
- nursery classes/units at primary schools
- voluntary and private pre-school education providers which are part of the Pre-School Education Programme.
These places are available for the full school year starting on 1 September 2013.
Where can I find out about funded pre-school education places in my area?
A booklet listing all pre-school provision in your area is available from your local pre-school provider or can be accessed from an education and library board website. Information about the admissions process is also available on the NI Direct website. Contact details
When do I need to apply for a funded place for my child?
The closing date for applications to all pre-school education providers is noon on Friday 11 January 2013. This is a deadline which is strictly adhered to. Submitting an application after this deadline may impact on your opportunity to obtain a funded pre-school education place for your child as late applications are only considered after punctual applications.
How do I apply for a funded pre-school place?
The application procedure allows you to list, on a single form, in order of preference, all pre-school providers (nursery schools/units, voluntary/private pre-school education providers) to which you wish to apply for a funded place for your child. The application form is available from any pre-school education provider or may be accessed from an education and library board website. You should list pre-school education providers in order of preference and return the form to your first preference pre-school provider before the closing date of noon on Friday 11 January 2013.
My child’s name is already on a list for admission to pre-school education. Do I need to complete an application form for a funded place?
Yes. All parents seeking funded places for their children from September 2013 must complete an application form.
Do I need to complete more than one application form if preferred providers are located in different Board areas?
No. You only need to complete one application form and send it to your first preference provider.
Why should I list more than one provider on my application form?
A number of pre-school providers will receive more applications than there are places available. It is therefore not possible to guarantee a place at any pre-school provider. If you only list one provider your application may be unsuccessful if they are oversubscribed with applications. If you do not list sufficient preferences at Stage 1 of the process you will not have an opportunity to add to this list until Stage 2 of the process. The application form allows you to list at least six preferences and you can list additional preferences on a separate page if you wish to do so. It is strongly recommended that you list, in order of preference, all providers you wish your child to be considered for admission to as this will maximise your opportunity to obtain a funded pre-school place.
In order to qualify for funded pre-school places, voluntary/private pre-school education providers are normally required to have enrolled at least 8children in their final pre-school year. If a provider is unable to meet this requirement they may be withdrawn from the Programme unless exceptional circumstances apply. This illustrates why it may be important to list a number of preferred providers.
What documents will I need to provide with my application?
The Department of Education has issued guidance to schools and pre-school education providers on their “duty to verify” important information contained within applications for admission. For this reason pre-school education providers will ask you to provide documents verifying your child’s age (birth certificate) and may ask for documents verifying address details.
Pre-school providers are required by law to prioritise the admission of children from socially disadvantaged circumstances. Parents in receipt of specified benefits (Income Support or income-based Jobseekers’ Allowance) must have their application form stamped by their local Social Security Office if they wish to claim priority in the admissions process on this basis. This must be done before the closing date of 12 noon on Friday 11 January 2013.
If your circumstances change after the admissions process starts there are dates specified within the ELB admissions booklets which must be adhered to for communicating details of any changes.
You should ensure that any documents requested are supplied promptly as any delay may affect your application.
How do pre-school education providers decide who gets a funded place?
If the number of applications received by a pre-school provider exceeds the number of funded places available, that provider must apply published admissions criteria. As required by legislation they must give priority in the first instance to children from socially disadvantaged circumstances (i.e. children of parents in receipt of Income Support or income-based Jobseekers’ Allowance).
Why are children from socially disadvantaged circumstances given priority?
Research has shown that children from socially disadvantaged circumstances tend to experience more difficulty at school than other children. The priority afforded to children from socially disadvantaged circumstances reflects the departmental aim of reducing educational underachievement in the long-term.
What other criteria do pre-school education providers use?
After applying the social disadvantage criterion the Board of Governors of a nursery school or unit, or the Management Committee/Proprietor of a voluntary/private pre-school education provider, may apply published criteria of their choosing which must be capable of prioritising applicants so that it is clear when the last available place has been filled.
You should examine carefully the admissions criteria used by your preferred providers to assess the chances of your child being admitted.
In doing so you should be aware that some providers choose to apply a criterion which prioritises applicants who have listed that provider as their first preference. Before naming further preferences check to see if they too prioritise applicants who name them as a first preference. You can only meet a criterion which gives priority to first preference applications for the first provider named on your list.
You should also be aware that even if you have listed a provider as your first preference, it is possible that another applicant who has listed that provider as a second, or lower, preference, may better meet the published admissions criteria and secure a place ahead of your child. This is a possible consequence of any preference based admissions system.
What provision has been made for children with special educational needs?
Once the requirement to give priority to children from socially disadvantaged circumstances is satisfied, providers set their own criteria and may choose to give priority to children with special educational needs. In addition, education and library boards may, where appropriate, and as part of a separate process, place children with Statements of Special Educational Needs in a pre-school setting which meets their particular needs.
Will my child receive the same pre-school education at all providers?
All funded providers within the pre-school education programme:
- follow the same pre-school education curriculum
- are inspected against the same education standards by the Education and Training Inspectorate
- meet specific standards for staff qualifications and staffing levels
- have expert support from a qualified teacher or early years specialist
- make inspection findings available to parents.
When will my child be able to attend?
Some pre-school places are offered on a full-time basis, others on a part-time basis.
Details are available from individual providers and are also contained within the admissions booklets published on education and library board websites.
Research has shown that, from an educational perspective, attending a part-time place is as beneficial to a child as attending a full-time place.
Must my child attend every pre-school session?
Pre-school education is not compulsory; however, good quality pre-school education has important benefits. If you have accepted the offer of a funded pre-school place there is an expectation that you will ensure your child attends in accordance with the hours set out by your chosen provider, except for sickness or other unavoidable reasons.
Is a funded place entirely free of any fees or charges?
Parents should be aware that pre-school providers may charge for certain services offered (e.g. snacks, lunches, extra-curricular activities) once a child is admitted. Any such charges should not relate to the delivery of the pre-school curriculum, and for non-statutory providers (i.e. voluntary or private providers) should not relate to the minimum period of 2½ hours pre-school education which is funded by the Department of Education. Charges vary between providers, so parents may wish to clarify with their preferred providers the extent of any applicable charges prior to submitting an application.
Some pre-school settings offer child care services in addition to the funded period of pre-school education. If you wish to avail of additional child care that is an arrangement between you and the provider and does not form any part of the funded pre-school education provision.
Why are there 2 Stages in the Pre-School Admissions Process?
The 2 Stage Admissions process is intended to ensure that as many children in their final pre-school year as possible secure a funded pre-school education place. At the end of Stage 1 of the process parents whose children are unplaced will receive information on where places remain available and will have an opportunity to nominate further preferences for consideration during Stage 2. It is strongly recommended that parents take the opportunity at Stage 2 to state further preferences.
The letter you receive at this point in the process will contain a list of providers with places available within an education and library board area. This letter is intended to help you state further preferences for providers with places available. It is not offering you a place at any provider, nor is it suggesting that some or all of the providers listed would be suitable choices for your child. That is a decision only you can make.
When will I know if my child has a place?
Letters will issue at the end of Stage 1 on Wednesday 10 April 2013 and at the end of Stage 2 on Friday 31 May 2013.
Should I arrange for my child to transfer from a funded pre-school education place to a reception class in a primary school from his or her 4thbirthday?
The pre-school education programme offers children a developmentally appropriate stage of non-compulsory education. Transferring your child to a reception class during the year may be disruptive to his or her educational and social development. 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 and does not provide a developmentally appropriate learning experience. Arrangements for admission to reception classes are separate from the pre-school admissions process.
What can I do if my child does not receive a funded place at the end of Stage 2 of the process?
If a vacancy occurs after Friday 31 May 2013 applicants will be considered in accordance with a provider’s waiting list policy. Please contact providers directly regarding your child’s place on a waiting list and any queries regarding waiting list policy.
Non-funded places, for which parents pay, may also be available in some voluntary/private pre-school education providers. Parents should contact these providers directly for further information.
Appeals against admissions decisions
Parents can appeal to an independent admissions appeal tribunal in the case of applications to a nursery school or unit. Tribunals can only consider whether the published admissions criteria have been applied, and applied correctly, or not. Parents are wholly responsible for ensuring that all relevant information is supplied on, or attached to, the application form. Further information is available within the ELB admissions booklets.
There is no appeal mechanism for applications to voluntary or private pre-school providers.
Contacts
For further information on where funded pre-school education places are located in your area and for copies of application forms, contact your local pre-school provider or you can access information from the relevant education and library board website.
Belfast Education and Library Board
Transfer and Open Enrolment BranchBelfast Education and Library Board
40 Academy Street
BELFAST
BT12NQ Telephone:02890564080
Website:www.belb.org.uk
Western Education and Library Board
Transfer and Open Enrolment BranchWestern Education and Library Board
1 Hospital Road
OMAGH
Co Tyrone
BT790AW Telephone:02882411458
Website:www.welbni.org
North-Eastern Education and Library Board
Transfer and Open Enrolment BranchNorth-Eastern Education and Library Board
County Hall
182 Galgorm Road
BALLYMENA
CoAntrim
BT421HN Telephone:02825662197 Website:www.neelb.org.uk
South-Eastern Education and Library Board
Pre-School Education HelplineSouth-Eastern Education and Library Board
Grahamsbridge Road
Dundonald
BELFAST
BT162HS Telephone:02890566981 Website:www.seelb.org.uk
Southern Education and Library Board
Pre-School Education HelplineSouthern Education and Library Board
3 Charlemont Place
ARMAGH
BT619AX Telephone:02837512526/2455 Website:www.selb.org
NI Direct
www.nidirect.gov.uk/funded-pre-school-education
Education and Library Board Contacts
For further information on where funded pre-school education places are located in your area and for copies of application forms, contact your local Education and Library Board.
Related Links
Things to be aware of when applying for a pre-school place 2013/14
Things to be aware of when applying for a pre-school place 2013/14 - Irish version
