Six pre-school settings in the Lisburn area will begin offering full-time, funded places for children starting in September 2025. The settings include Ballinderry Primary School, Jolly Pirates Pre-School Playgroup, Little Rays Pre-School Playgroup, Rhyme Times Playgroup, Rowandale Integrated Nursery Unit, and Tonagh Primary School.
This move is part of a wider initiative to expand pre-school provision across Northern Ireland, announced by Education Minister and Lagan Valley MLA Paul Givan. The Minister stated that the extension will allow for an additional 2,200 full-time pre-school places to be available from September 2025.
The plan aims to transition 100 pre-school settings from part-time to full-time services, a step towards fulfilling the largest expansion of pre-school provision in over 25 years. Givan emphasized that the changes will ensure more children get the best start to their education while providing additional support to families.
“These changes are a crucial part of our ongoing effort to provide every child with a full-time pre-school place,” Givan said. “We have carefully considered feedback from pre-school settings and stakeholders, and I am pleased to approve the first 77 pre-schools for transition.”
The announcement is the first in a series, with more pre-schools expected to be added in the coming weeks. Givan reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that all council areas and pre-school management types are represented in the upcoming changes.
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