Pre-School Standardisation Programme – Cohort Three, Tranche One Consultation
Pre-School Standardisation Programme – Cohort Three
Pre-school Settings Requesting Transition from September 2027
The settings listed below have requested changes to deliver new or additional full-time (22.5 hours per week) funded pre-school education from September 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter.
This list comprises a total of 32 settings and is the first tranche of settings to be considered to implement the standardised pre-school session length from September 2027. Details about other settings will be published for consultation as soon as possible.
The EA has confirmed that all proposed changes can be implemented while maintaining the overall objective of the Pre-School Education Programme to provide a funded pre-school education place for every target aged child whose parents want it.
The EA considers that all the settings listed can be fully prepared to deliver full-time pre-school education places for at least 22.5 hours per week from September 2027, that any necessary resources have been secured and any changes required can be completed before this date.
The leadership of each pre-school have formally requested the changes. In making their requests, they have each confirmed that the proposed changes are deliverable within the existing provision available in the setting (including any provision that has already been agreed with the EA but not yet in place) and are not dependent on any other new or additional capital or other investment. It is the view of the leadership of each setting that the requested provision is sustainable.
Stakeholders are invited to provide comments on why the proposed changes should or should not be approved.
Comments should be sent to preschoolstandardisation@education-ni.gov.uk by 5.00pm on Friday 30 October 2026.
Requests for Amalgamation for Standardisation
The two settings below have requested a reduction in admissions and enrolment to be applied at the same time as a change in session length. More information on Amalgamation for Standardisation can be found here.
If approved, each setting would only offer full-time (22.5 hours per week) funded pre-school education places after the date of implementation. The number of places that would be offered is different to the current number and is shown on the table below.
DE Ref | Setting Name | Local Government District (LGD) | Current Pattern FT | Current Pattern PT | Proposed Pattern FT | Proposed Pattern PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3116219 | Monkstown Nursery School | Antrim and Newtownabbey | 26 | 52 | 52 | 0 |
| 3033317 | St John's Primary School and Carnlough Community PS NU (Ballymena) | Mid and East Antrim | 0 | 52 | 26 | 0 |
Requests for Standardisation
The 30 settings below have requested a change in session length only.
For statutory settings, if approved, the number of places offered would not change. The approved admissions number would be as it currently is, but the places at each setting that are currently part-time (12.5 hours per week) would move to being full time (22.5 hours per week) after the date of implementation. Any full-time provision that is already in place at a setting would also continue.
For non-statutory settings, the number of places would, as currently, be set via the annual EA PAN allocation. If approved, each setting would offer only full time (22.5 hours per week) funded places after the date of implementation.
| DE Ref | Setting Name | Setting type | Local Government District (LGD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1AB0427 | 174 Trust PG | Non-Statutory | Belfast |
| 3AB0355 | Ballymoney & District Community PG | Non-Statutory | Causeway Coast and Glens |
| 5AB0406 | Benburb Community PG (Dungannon) | Non-Statutory | Mid Ulster |
| 3AB0119 | Castlerock Community PG (Coleraine) | Non-Statutory | Causeway Coast and Glens |
| 4066588 | Cedar Integrated PS NU (Crossgar) | Statutory | Newry, Mourne and Down |
| 3010834 | Clough PS NU | Statutory | Mid and East Antrim |
| 5AB0417 | Discovering Kids PG (Moneymore) | Non-Statutory | Mid Ulster |
| 3BB0094 | Glengormley Integrated PS PG (Newtownabbey) | Non-Statutory | Antrim and Newtownabbey |
| 5AB0405 | Keady Community Playgroup | Non-Statutory | Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon |
| 5CA0598 | Kiddiwinkles Pre School PG (Dungannon) | Non-Statutory | Mid Ulster |
| 5AB0420 | Leitrim Community PG (Castlewellan) | Non-Statutory | Newry, Mourne and Down |
| 5BB0542 | Little Acorns PG (Derrymore) | Non-Statutory | Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon |
| 5CA0559 | Little Friends Pre School PG (Banbridge) | Non-Statutory | Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon |
| 3BB0533 | Maine Integrated PG (Randalstown) | Non-Statutory | Antrim and Newtownabbey |
| 1AA0423 | Malone Nursery School PG | Non-Statutory | Belfast |
| 4066644 | Millennium Integrated PS NU (Saintfield) | Statutory | Lisburn and Castlereagh |
| 2046669 | Naiscoil an Traonaigh PS NU (Lisnaskea) | Statutory | Fermanagh and Omagh |
| 3AB0662 | Naiscoil Ghreanachain PG (Swatragh) | Non-Statutory | Mid Ulster |
| 2012691 | Omagh County PS NU | Statutory | Fermanagh and Omagh |
| 5036639 | Our Lady's and St Mochua's PS NU | Statutory | Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon |
| 2AB0043 | Rainbow Child & Family Centre PG (Galliagh) | Non-Statutory | Derry City and Strabane |
| 4CA0530 | Right Rascals Day Nursery PG | Non-Statutory | Ards and North Down |
| 4CA0442 | Rockmount Day Nursery PG | Non-Statutory | Newry, Mourne and Down |
| 2036082 | St Colmcille's PS NU (Claudy) | Statutory | Derry City and Strabane |
| 1BB0322 | St Oliver Plunkett Pre School PG (Belfast) | Non-Statutory | Belfast |
| 3BB0085 | Stepping Stones Pre School Centre PG (Maghera) | Non-Statutory | Mid Ulster |
| 5AB0191 | Strawberry Tree PG (Newry) | Non-Statutory | Newry, Mourne and Down |
| 2032287 | Termoncanice PS NU (Limavady) | Statutory | Causeway Coast and Glens |
| 4BB0145 | The Learning Tree Pre School PG | Non-Statutory | Lisburn and Castlereagh |
| 3AB0482 | Tober Tinys Community PG (Magherafelt) | Non-Statutory | Mid Ulster |