01/10/2025
NI Pre-Schools Move To Full-Time Provision
The first group of pre-schools in Northern Ireland has expanded to full-time sessions under the country's Pre-School Standardisation Programme.
The move increases pre-school education to a minimum of 22.5 hours per week for children aged 3-4 and includes access to free school meals for eligible children.
Since September 2025, 105 pre-school settings have adopted the longer session length, creating over 2,500 additional full-time places. Drumadonnell Primary School Nursery Unit is among the first to complete the transition.
Speaking during a visit to the school, Education Minister Paul Givan noted the change supports children's social and emotional development and provides extra support for those who need it. He also stated the benefits for working parents, including reduced childcare costs.
Minister Givan added: "I have secured £80million Executive funding over the past two financial years to take forward a package of measures for early learning and childcare services. A significant part of this funding was invested in our pre-school sector which clearly demonstrates the value that we place on early years education in Northern Ireland and delivers on the Programme for Government (PFG) priority of providing more affordable, accessible, high-quality early learning and childcare."
Lynn Wilson, Principal at Drumadonnell Nursery, said the extended hours will improve educational opportunities for young children and offer greater flexibility for families.
Work towards transitioning a further 2,200 additional pre-school places across approximately 100 settings to full-time provision from September 2026 is underway.
Consultation on the next cohort of 33 settings under consideration for implementation of the programme is open until Friday, 24 October 2025.
More information can be found here.
The move increases pre-school education to a minimum of 22.5 hours per week for children aged 3-4 and includes access to free school meals for eligible children.
Since September 2025, 105 pre-school settings have adopted the longer session length, creating over 2,500 additional full-time places. Drumadonnell Primary School Nursery Unit is among the first to complete the transition.
Speaking during a visit to the school, Education Minister Paul Givan noted the change supports children's social and emotional development and provides extra support for those who need it. He also stated the benefits for working parents, including reduced childcare costs.
Lynn Wilson, Principal at Drumadonnell Nursery, said the extended hours will improve educational opportunities for young children and offer greater flexibility for families.
Work towards transitioning a further 2,200 additional pre-school places across approximately 100 settings to full-time provision from September 2026 is underway.
Consultation on the next cohort of 33 settings under consideration for implementation of the programme is open until Friday, 24 October 2025.
More information can be found here.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.