22,500 Children Offered Pre-School Place

Over 22,500 children have secured a funded pre-school place for September 2013.

The news, announced today by the Department of Education, means 99.9% of target-aged children whose parents engaged with the admissions process have been offered a place.

John O’Dowd, Minister for Education, said: "I am very pleased to be able to report today that 22,576 children have been offered a pre-school place for September 2013. This is a significant achievement and consolidates the progress made last year in meeting the Executive’s Programme for Government commitment of ensuring that at least one year of pre-school education is available to every family that wants it.

"Throughout this year’s process, the Education and Library Boards have made considerable efforts to secure places for all children. This highlights very clearly the importance of parents continuing to work with the Boards through the 2 stage process."

The Minister continued: "While the number of places available exceeded the number of children applying for places, some parents chose not to state further preferences at Stage 2. This means that some parents were not offered a funded pre-school place for their child. However places do remain in the system and parents of children remaining unplaced, for whatever reason, will be advised of pre-school settings where places are available if they wish to reconsider."

Education and Library Boards will be advising the parents of all unplaced children of where places remain available.

(IT)