Today the Education Minister has announced decisive action to
level the playing field for hard working families seeking
admission to pre-school education.
As the Department begins a consultation on removing the Socially
Disadvantaged Circumstances (SDC) criterion, the Minister has
confirmed that only those receiving benefits specifically named
in the outgoing Regulations will be prioritised in the pre-school
admissions process next year. This will end the practice of
reading in' any new benefits that may have replaced them.
Speaking in the Northern Ireland Assembly, said: Parents, pre-school
education practitioners and elected representatives from across
the Assembly have been clear; the current prioritisation when
applying for funded pre-school education places is now outdated,
unnecessary and unfair. There are enough funded places in every
area of Northern Ireland to accommodate every pre-school aged
child.
The current practice is also no longer legally
defensible. The action I am taking today represents
significant and immediate progress towards a fairer approach to
pre-school admissions in advance of the necessary legislative
change."
concluded: This change is
about supporting hard working families and ensuring they are no
longer disadvantaged. It is about placing pre-schools on an equal
footing with primary and post primary schools, empowering them to
select admissions criteria that best reflect their individual
settings and the communities they serve. The consultation will
help inform how we take the next step and I encourage everyone to
respond."
In his statement to the Assembly, the Minister also reinforced
his pledge to support families with young children, through the
Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS) as well as
other Early Learning and Childcare Strategy initiatives. He
confirmed his commitment to ensuring that a suitable full-time
pre-school place is available for every child whose parents want
one.
The public consultation on Pre-school Admissions: Socially
Disadvantaged Circumstances (SDC) criterion seeks views on
whether any new legislation or guidance is required. It is
available now on the Department of Education website. Responses
from all stakeholders and interested parties are welcome.
The consultation can be accessed at: https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/consultations/pre-school-admissions-consultation-socially-disadvantaged-circumstances-sdc-criterion
Further information is available in the Oral Statement
at: https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/oral-statement-pre-school-admissions-and-socially-disadvantaged-circumstances-criterion-sdc
