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  • Guidance for pre-school education providers

    Topics:
    • Support and development, 
    • Early years education and learning

    The Pre-School Education Programme (PSEP) is an initiative through which the Executive's Programme for Government commitment to preschool education provision is implemented.

    Documents

    The following documents provide guidance to voluntary and private pre-school education centres on various aspects of the Programme.

    • General Guidance for Voluntary/Private Providers

    Preventing child sexual exploitation and Relationships and Sexuality Education

    This is guidance on preventing Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and Relationships and Sexuality Education. The guidance has been produced by the Department of Education (DE) for statutory education settings, but is also relevant for non-statutory settings.

    In most instances the content of this guidance is targeted at older children but we hope you find it useful to see the information and advice which DE shares with schools and other educational establishments on these important issues. Links to the relevant material are set out below.

    Child Sexual Exploitation

    The report of the independent inquiry, led by Kathleen Marshall, into CSE in the north of Ireland is available on the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) website

    A child/young person friendly version of the report in the form of animation is also available.

    The Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) was enjoined to the inquiry and its report ‘Evaluation of Preventative Education' is available on the ETI website.

    Relationships and Sexuality Education

    DE Circular 2015/22 - Relationship and Sexuality Education Guidance advises school authorities about revised RSE guidance produced by CCEA on behalf of the Department of Education.

    The updated guidance can be accessed on the CCEA website at the links below:

    • Primary
    • Post Primary

    Advice on best practice

    The Education and Training Inspectorate's (ETI) evaluation of Relationships and Sexuality Education in Post-Primary Schools is available on the ETI website.

    Advice to schools on the best practice characteristics identified by the ETI in relation to the provision of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) is available on the Department's website

    Related content

    • Applying for a funded pre-school place – 2025/26
    • Curricular guidance
    • Draft Early Years (0-6) Strategy Consultation
    • Early years education
    • Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy
    • Getting Ready to Learn (GRtL) & Getting Ready for Toddler (3+ Review)
    • Guidance on induction and transition in pre-school education and Year 1 of primary school
    • Investing in Early Learning (1998)
    • Irish Medium Pre-School Research
    • Learning to Learn
    • Learning to Learn Consultation
    • Minister’s Decisions on Pre-School Settings Requesting Transition from September 2025
    • Origins of Pre-School Education in Northern Ireland
    • Pre-School Education Places
    • Pre-School Education Programme - Standardisation
    • Pre-school Review 2004 - A fresh start for early years
    • Qualifications for early years specialists
    • Review of Pre-School Admissions Arrangements
    • Sure Start
    • The Pathway Fund
    • The Pathway Fund 2021–2023
    • Tranche Three – Pre-school Settings Requesting Transition From September 2025
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