Summary
The Department of Education is seeking views on the options available to the Department on any future prioritisation of children from socially disadvantaged circumstances (SDC). After the close of the consultation responses from stakeholders will be analysed and inform the way forward. A report will be prepared summarising the findings.
Documents
- Pre-school Admissions: Consultation Information Booklet - SDC
- Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) SDC
- EQIA Response Form Template SDC
- Child Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) SDC
- Rural Needs Impact Assessment (RNIA) SDC
- Privacy Notice SDC
Consultation description
The Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy (ELC Strategy) is a comprehensive and ambitious framework designed to transform early years provision across Northern Ireland and gives expression to the Programme for Government commitment to provide more affordable, accessible, high-quality early learning and childcare opportunities to support children’s development and ease financial pressures for working families.
The ELC Strategy includes a number of pre-school education actions including consulting on legislative changes to remove the current statutory admission criterion prioritising children from socially disadvantaged circumstances (SDC) when applying for funded pre-school education places during the pre-school admissions process.
The consultation relates to the legislation regarding the SDC criterion, within the Pre-School Education in Schools (Admissions Criteria) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 which sets out that the top admissions criterion for each provider in the Pre-school Education Programme (PSEP) must prioritise children from SDC.
The SDC criterion was first introduced to prioritise access to a limited pre-school programme for those children deemed likely to benefit from it most. At that time, only 45% of children in their immediate pre-school year could access a funded pre-school place.
Much has changed in almost 30 years and the context today is very different. For over a decade there have been enough funded places in every area of Northern Ireland to accommodate every target-aged child whose parents want a pre-school place for them. There is no longer a need for a law to prioritise children for access. During this period, much has also changed in terms of welfare reform, the impact of which mean that welfare payments named in the legislation are almost entirely outdated.
There have been calls for the SDC legislation to be amended or repealed for over 20 years and numerous public consultations have demonstrated the same thing, it is no longer fit for purpose and should be removed. This change is not about removing protections for disadvantaged children; it is about removing outdated provisions to ensure that children at pre-school age have fair access to education provision, just as they do at primary and post primary age.
This consultation seeks views on whether the present regulations should simply be repealed or if new, fit for purpose legislation is required. It is important to understand that we do not need new legislation to permit settings to prioritise disadvantaged children, with the benefit of guidance from the Department, settings can prioritise children in a way that best reflects the children and communities they serve.
The Pre-school Admissions: Consultation Information Booklet listed above contains more detailed information relating to the consultation and you are encouraged to read the booklet in advance of completing the online survey linked below.
Responses to the consultation are welcome from all stakeholders and interested parties, particularly parents and carers, early years sectoral bodies and providers of pre-school education, including nursery schools, primary schools with nursery units and voluntary and private pre-school education settings participating in the Pre-school Education Programme.
Why your views matter
The consultation represents an opportunity for stakeholders and interested parties to have their views relating to any future prioritisation of children from SDC when the existing legislation is removed.
The consultation period will be from 7 September to 4 December 2026. Please note that responses received after the deadline may not be considered.
The Department is keen to hear your views and would encourage filling out the online survey here
Alternative formats
Documents can be requested in alternative formats. For more information on the alternative formats available and the timescales involved, email de.earlyyears@education-ni.gov.uk
Ways to respond
Department of Education
Rathgael House
Balloo Road
Rathgill
Bangor,
BT19 7PR