Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the first cohort of pre-schools to expand their provision to full-time sessions under the Pre-School Standardisation Programme.
This standardisation of pre-school settings forms part of a package of measures to support children, parents and providers with early learning and childcare.
It has expanded the length of pre-school education sessions to a minimum of 22.5 hours per week for all children aged 3-4, including access to free school meals for eligible children from September 2025.
A total of 105 pre-school settings have transitioned to the longer session length from September 2025, providing over 2,500 additional full-time pre-school education places in the first cohort of the Standardisation Programme.
Drumadonnell Primary School Nursery Unit is one of the first schools to successfully complete their transition to full-time pre-school provision.
Speaking during a visit to the school, Paul Givan said: “There is a compelling case for providing 22.5 hours of pre-school education, particularly in terms of its positive impact on children’s social and emotional development. Full-time provision allows children extended engagement with pre-school educators, giving them the time and support they need to build essential early skills that are the foundation of future learning.
“Longer session lengths will be especially beneficial for children who require additional support, while also offering significant advantages for many working parents by helping to reduce childcare costs.
“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 Primary School and Nursery Unit added: “We are delighted to have been selected in the first cohort of pre-schools to transition to full-time pre-school provision. This transformation will make a real difference in our rural community.
“By extending our nursery hours, we are able to further enhance and enrich the educational experience of our young learners, laying a strong foundation for the future. Full-time pre-school provision offers additional support and greater flexibility for working families and extends the hours of our dedicated nursery staff.”
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 at: https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/articles/pre-school-standardisation-programme-cohort-two-tranche-one-consultation
Photo caption: Education Minister pictured (l to r) with pupil Jack, Principal Lynn Wilson and pupil Alice during a visit to Drumadonnell Primary School Nursery Unit.
