AQW 20279/17-22 Written question to the Minister of Education
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of children that have engaged in early years projects in East Londonderry, in each of the past five years.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 11 June 2021
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 11 June 2021
- Answer due by
- 28 June 2021
- Answered
- 21 June 202110 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Education
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Details of the numbers of children engaging in early years projects in East Londonderry, in each of the past five years from 2016/17 to 2020/21, are provided in the table below.
| Early Years project / programme | Outline details of project / programme | 16/17 | 17/18 | 18/19 | 19/20 | 20/21 |
| Pre-School Education Programme | Pre-school education for children (aged 3 to 4) in their immediate school year. | 1,137 | 1,127 | 1,209 | 1,165 | 1,140 |
| *Sure Start Programme | Support to children (aged 0 to 3) and their families, via 38 Sure Start projects, in (at least) the 25% most disadvantaged areas in Northern Ireland. | 1,158 | 1,219 | 1,122 | 1,056 | 576 |
| Pathway Fund | Additional targeted support to children aged 0-4 years who are at risk of not reaching their full educational potential. | 468 | 460 | 588 | 367 | 582 |
| Toybox Project | Support for Traveller and Roma children aged 0–4 years in nine key areas across NI. | Not available | Not available | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Bright Start School Age Childcare Grant Scheme | The pilot Bright Start School Age Childcare (SAC) Grant Scheme aims to sustain and/or create school age childcare places (aged 4 to 14). | 167 | 176 | 152 | 153 | 144 |
| TOTALS | 2,930 | 2,982 | 3,072 | 2,742 | 2,443 |
Sources: Education Authority, Health and Social Care Board, Early Years – the Organisation for Young Children
* East Londonderry constituency is served by Coleraine and Dry Arch Sure Start projects