Education Minister announces additional 2,500 children to receive full-time pre-school education

Education Minister Paul Givan has announced that an additional 2.500 children in 105 pre-school settings from throughout Northern Ireland will be offered full-time pre-school education from September 2025.

The 105 pre-school settings from all council areas and pre-school management types will begin the transition of moving from part-time to full-time hours from September 2025.

Education Minister Paul Givan said: “I had previously indicated my intention to transition 100 pre-school settings to deliver 22.5 hours pre-school per week from September 2025. Having considered the requests made by pre-school settings and the feedback from the public consultation, I have now approved 105 settings to transition from September 2025.

“Providing this additional time in the day will allow the children to benefit from the rich play-based learning environment of the pre-school setting, allow pre-school staff more time to interact with and support young learners and also provide access to a funded school meal for eligible children. 

“The longer session length also supports parents in their childcare arrangements, by providing a longer period of funded provision for their children each day.”

Pre-school settings do not need to take any action to be considered for the standardisation programme. The Department of Education and the Education Authority will continue to engage with settings, both to support those transitioning in September and to identify settings for future years.

The full list of the 105 pre-school settings is available on the Department's website at Minister's Decisions on Pre-School Settings Requesting Transition from September 2025 | Department of Education

This standardisation of pre-school settings formed part of a £25million package of measures to support children, parents and providers with early learning and childcare in 2024/25.