AQW 45134/11-15 Written question to the Minister of Education
To ask the Minister of Education for a breakdown of how the projected need for pre-school places across Northern Ireland for 2015-2016 is calculated.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 27 April 2015
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 27 April 2015
- Answer due by
- 13 May 2015
- Answered
- 12 May 201515 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Education
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The Pre-School Education Advisory Groups (PEAG) of each Region in the Education Authority (EA) are responsible for ensuring that there is adequate pre-school provision in local areas.
The Department and the PEAGs maintain regular contact throughout the pre-school admissions process: this includes discussion of the PEAGs’ annual assessment of need; regular reviews of progress as the process moves forward and consideration of how to address emerging pressures.
In calculating projected need for places, the PEAGs plan on the basis of 92% of the birth rate of the relevant pre-school cohort which represents approximately the percentage of eligible children who apply. It is not possible to match demand for places exactly with supply for a range of reasons including the- non compulsory nature of pre-school education and variations in how parents express their preferences, for example to accommodate childcare arrangements.