3rd November 2026
Applying for a Pre-School Place for September 2027 – key dates now published
If you’re considering applying for Pre-School education for your child in September 2027, the Education Authority (EA) has now released the key dates of when the admissions criteria are published, when applications open and close, and when you can expect to receive the outcome of your application.
The aim of the Pre-School Education Programme is to provide one year of high quality, funded Pre-School education, it isn’t compulsory and parents can apply if they want to.
The key dates for parents to note are:
- Admissions criteria for all Pre-School settings will be published on the EA website on 9 December 2026.
Stage One – For target-age applications only
- Applications open on 6 January 2027 at 12 noon.
- Applications close on 20 January 2027 at 12 noon.
- Outcomes issued on 18 March 2027.
It is important to apply before the deadline as there is no late application timeframe.
A list of Pre-Schools with funded places remaining available will be published by EA on 18 March 2027.
Stage Two – For target-age, late deferral and penultimate age applications
Parents who have chosen to defer their child’s entry to P1 and are considered as ‘late deferrals’ can apply in Stage Two only.
Applications for children in their penultimate Pre-School year, sometimes referred to as ‘Pre-Pre-school year’ can be made in Stage Two only.
- Applications open on 18 March 2027.
- Applications close on 12 May 2027 at 4pm.
- Outcomes issued on 11 June 2027.
Further updates will be published when released by the Education Authority.
The ‘Funded Pre-school Places: Information for parents’ factsheet on our website will be updated with all relevant information when it becomes available, go to: www.employersforchildcare.org/information-factsheets/