Skip to main content
Department of Education Department of Education

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Topics
  • Publications
  • Consultations
  • Contact

Translation help

Translate this page

Select a language

  • Arabic — عربي
  • Chinese (Simplified) — 中文简体
  • Chinese (Traditional) — 中文繁體
  • Dutch — Nederlands
  • Filipino — Filipino
  • French — Français
  • German — Deutsch
  • Hungarian — Magyar
  • Irish — Gaeilge
  • Italian — Italiano
  • Latvian — Latviešu
  • Lithuanian — Lietuvių kalba
  • Polish — Polski
  • Portuguese — Português
  • Romanian — Română
  • Russian — Русский
  • Slovak — Slovenčina
  • Spanish — Español
  • Ukrainian — Українська
  • Circulars 2022/09 and 2024/11 - Guidance on a Pilot Programme 'Amalgamation for Standardisation' of Pre-School Classes

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

    Date published: 12 October 2022

    Last updated: 12 February 2026

    Pilot Programme 'Amalgamation for Standardisation' of Pre-School Classes (2022/2023)

    In 2022 and 2023 pre-school settings with at least 15 penultimate age pupils in at least three of the previous five academic years (according to DE census figures) were invited to participate in the initial phase of the pilot programme (please note the criteria for eligibility has changed since the pilot programme).

    The settings listed below have had their requested change to their enrolment pattern and numbers approved: 

    • The Academy Nursery School, Londonderry (September 2023);
    • Belmont Nursery School, Londonderry (September 2023); and
    • St James’ PS Nursery Unit, Newtownabbey; (September 2023).
    • Omagh North Nursery School (September 2024); Portavogie PS Nursery Unit(September 2024); and
    • St Joseph’s PS Nursery Unit, Crumlin(September 2024).

    Amalgamation for Standardisation Pilot decisions 2022 & 2023

    • Amalgamation for Standardisation Pilot decisions 2022 & 2023

     

    Documents

    • Circular 2022 09 - Guidance on a Pilot Programme ‘Amalgamation for Standardisation’ of Pre-School ClassesAdobe PDF (237.46 KB)
    • DE Circular 2024 11 - Updated Guidance on ‘Amalgamation for Standardisation’ of Pre-School ClassesMicrosoft Word (71.92 KB)

    Help viewing documents

    Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on X (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

    Department footer links

    • Crown copyright
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy
    • Cookies
    • Accessibility
    • The Northern Ireland Executive
    • The Executive Office
    • Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
    • Department for Communities
    • Department for Education
    • Department for the Economy
    • Department of Finance
    • Department for Infrastructure
    • Department for Health
    • Department of Justice
    • nidirect.gov.uk — the official government website for Northern Ireland citizens