Information for parents on applying for a pre-school place in Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, children are currently entitled to a funded pre-school place of at least 12.5 hours per week for 38 weeks in the year before they start primary one, although some children can access up to 22.5 hours per week.  In May 2024, the Education Minister Paul Givan reiterated previously announced plans to standardise pre-school provision, offering all children 22.5 hours of funded pre-school education per week. To date 105 settings have already transitioned with a further 100 pre-school setting intending to transition to deliver 22.5 hours from September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Pre-school education is not compulsory, but it helps prepare children for primary school by providing a variety of challenging play-based learning activities and other experiences in a stimulating environment. Studies have shown that pre-school education can contribute to better performance in school and that high quality childcare and early years education in general can have a positive impact on children throughout their school years and beyond.

Applying for a pre-school place for the 2026-2027 school year

The pre-school admissions guide is now available on the Education Authority website. This guide provides parents with the key dates relevant to the application process.

On Wednesday 10 December 2025 the admissions criteria for pre-school settings in Northern Ireland will be published on the Education Authority website. Each pre-school will have its own admissions criteria to be used in the event of it receiving more applications than it has funded places available.

We would encourage parents to review the Education Authority guidance, and the published admissions criteria for their preferred pre-schools carefully, before applying.

The EA Connect portal for online applications opens at 12 noon on Wednesday 7 January 2026 and closes at 12 noon on Wednesday 21 January 2026.  Applications received after then will be treated as late.

Parents have until Monday 26 January 2026 at 4pm to submit supporting documentation.

Note, places are not allocated on a first come, first served basis. Pre-school providers will not consider applications until after the closing date.

If you are unable to apply online or need additional support contact the Education Authority Pre-School Admissions Helpdesk on 028 9047 0177 or email preschooladmissions@eani.org.uk.

Who is eligible for a funded pre-school place for 2026-2027?

If your child was born on or between 2 July 2022 and 1 July 2023, they will be in their final pre-school year (target age) and you are eligible to apply for their admission to either a Nursery School, Nursery Unit in a primary school, or a voluntary/private playgroup provider which provides funded pre-school places, for the school year beginning September 2026.

If there are funded places still available after all target age places have been allocated then younger children born on or between 2 July 2023 and 1 July 2024 may also be admitted (this is sometimes known as a pre-pre-school place). If your child falls within this age group you will be eligible to apply to a Nursery School or a Nursery Unit only. Applications for younger children must still be made within the application deadlines above.

Deferral of pre-school and school starting age

Legislation allows parents of children who are young for their year to defer the start of pre-school and, in turn, primary school for their child for one year.

Deferral of pre-school means delaying your child starting pre-school for one year from September 2026 to September 2027. Your child would then in turn delay starting primary school until September 2028. This would mean your child would start pre-school aged 4 and primary school aged 5. Your child would then (unless in very unusual circumstances such as serious illness) remain within this year group throughout their time at school.

For the new academic year, these arrangements apply to children born on or between 1 April 2023 and 1 July 2023 and any child who was born before 1 April 2023 but who was due to be born on or after 1 April 2023 if born at term.

Further information on the deferral of pre-school and shttps://www.employersforchildcare.org/parents/download-library/chool starting age is available at https://www.eani.org.uk/parents/pupil-applications-and-grants/admissions/deferral-of-school-starting-age

Further information on applying for a pre-school place

Parents can read further information on the pre-school admission procedure on the Education Authority’s website.

Further information regarding funded pre-school places in Northern Ireland is available in our factsheet: Funded Pre-School Places – Information for Parents or by contacting our Family Benefits Advice Service on hello@employersforchildcare.org.