Education Minister announces expanded inclusion support for pre-school children
Date published:
Education Minister Paul Givan has today announced that the Pre-school Inclusion Fund for 2025/26 will be expanded to include all Department of Education funded pre-school settings.
Paul Givan, said:
“I am delighted to confirm the expansion of the Pre-school Inclusion Fund for 2025/26, as part of my ongoing commitment to delivering on SEN Reform. This expansion will see an investment of £4.5million to help ensure our services, staff and systems are equipped and resourced to deliver effectively for the growing number of children requiring additional support to thrive.
“Since launching the pilot Fund in November 2024, 213 pre-school settings have received support to meet the needs of children undergoing statutory assessment of their educational needs."
He continued:
“Following a review of the eligibility process and administration of the Fund and taking account of the lessons learned from the first year of the pilot, I have agreed a revised approach that will enable all 670 DE funded pre-school education providers to access support.
“This recognises the increasing number of children presenting with additional needs in the early years and ensures equity right across the pre-school sector.”
Eligible settings can use the funding flexibly to suit the needs of their pupils with SEN. This may be to buy in additional staff time, access Allied Health Professional services, such as speech and language therapy, or procure specialist equipment and resources.
The Minister concluded:
“The pilot Fund successfully enabled pre-schools to meet the diverse needs of children in their classes more effectively, with many welcoming the additional resources and enhanced flexibility tailored to meet their individual needs. I look forward to seeing more pre-school settings benefit from the expansion of this Fund in the year ahead.”
The Pre-school Inclusion Fund is an investment of £4.5million which formed part of a £55million package of measures funded by the Executive to support early learning and childcare in 2025/26.
Eligible pre-school settings will receive a letter of offer in the coming days.
Notes to editors:
- The funding allocation will be available to all 670 DE funded pre-school settings. Following a review of the Fund, a more equitable and streamlined approach will be adopted in 2025/26, providing settings with a standardised amount of £5,300 per full‑time class and £3,200 per part‑time class.
- Eligible pre-school settings will receive a letter of offer in the coming days, with funding allocated to all settings that return a completed Form of Acceptance shortly thereafter.
- For more news from the Department of Education, you can follow us on our social media channels:
- X @Education_NI
- Facebook Department of Education NI
- Instagram de_northern_ireland
- LinkedIN Department of Education
- Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office at Press.Office@education-ni.gov.uk