Education Minister Paul Givan has confirmed that a further 102 pre-school settings will move to full-time provision (22.5 hours per week) from September 2026. The decision, part of the Department for Education’s Pre-school Standardisation Programme, follows last autumn’s approval of 105 settings set to make the same switch in 2025. If delivered on schedule, roughly half of all funded pre-school places in Northern Ireland will be full-time within the next two academic years.
For families, the change promises more consistent hours, a funded school meal for eligible children and—crucially—fewer gaps between childcare and work. For providers, the Department argues that longer sessions will create richer learning environments and give staff more one-to-one time with pupils.
What Will Change from September 2026?
- Scope: 102 additional settings approved, bringing the total to 207 since the programme launched.
- Hours: Each participating setting will offer 22.5 hours of funded education per week.
- Geography: The Minister says the roll-out will cover “every area of Northern Ireland,” though no regional breakdown is yet published.
- Meals: Eligible children will receive a funded school meal during their session.
- Timeline: The latest cohort makes the transition in September 2026; the first cohort begins in September 2025.
- Funding context: Part of a wider £55 million early-learning and childcare package for 2025/26.
Voices from the Sector
Announcing the expansion at Anahilt Pre-school Playgroup, Mr Givan said the policy “clearly demonstrates the value that I place on early years education in Northern Ireland.”
Preschool leader Dara Graham welcomed the decision, calling it “a fantastic step for our children and families” that will offer “more stability, support and opportunities for our little ones.”
The Department has published the full list of the approved settings.
Details Still to Be Clarified
The announcement highlights expanded hours and the headline budget but leaves several operational questions unanswered:
- Selection criteria: The criteria used to choose the 102 settings are not provided.
- Long-term funding: The press material references the £55 million package for 2025/26 but does not specify how full-time provision will be sustained beyond that period.
- Workforce implications: There is no mention of additional staffing costs, pay scales or training to support longer sessions.
- Rural reach: While officials say every area will have access, the document does not break down urban versus rural coverage.
- Parental fees: It remains unclear whether optional extras (wrap-around care, transport) will carry charges for families.
Wider Early-Years Landscape
Across the UK, demand for affordable childcare remains high. A 2024 survey by Coram Family and Childcare found that Northern Ireland parents pay an average of £181 per week for a full-time nursery place—a figure that continues to outpace inflation. Converting half of funded places to full-time may ease pressure, but broader challenges persist: staff recruitment difficulties, rising operating costs, and mixed funding models between voluntary, private and statutory providers.
In England, the move to 30 hours of funded childcare has yielded mixed outcomes—improved access for some families but financial strain for others providers (Institute for Fiscal Studies, 2023). Observers will be watching whether Northern Ireland’s 22.5-hour model can avoid similar pitfalls, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
Questions for Further Scrutiny
- How will the Department ensure that the shift to 22.5 hours measurably improves learning outcomes for children?
- What mechanisms are in place to fund full-time provision after the 2025/26 budget cycle?
- Will existing staff receive additional pay or professional development to cover the longer day?
- How will the programme support rural or small-scale providers that may struggle with extended hours?
- Could the expansion inadvertently widen gaps between families who can and cannot access wrap-around care beyond the funded 22.5 hours?
Looking Ahead
Today’s announcement signals accelerating momentum toward universal 22.5-hour provision. Families whose settings feature on the approved list can begin planning for the 2026/27 year, while providers have nearly twenty months to recruit staff and adjust timetables. The success of the roll-out will hinge on forthcoming detail—particularly around sustained funding, workforce support and equitable access. Stakeholders may wish to monitor budget statements in early 2026 and any guidance on staffing ratios to gauge whether good intentions translate into high-quality, accessible early-years education for every child.