105 pre-schools in Northern Ireland have already become full-time since September 2025
Education Minister Paul Givan is pictured at Anahilt Pre-school Playgroup, Hillsborough
An additional 102 pre-school settings across Northern Ireland have been approved to offer full-time education from September 2026.
This is the second cohort of settings which have been approved to move to offering full time places under the Pre-school Standardisation programme. The pre-schools are approved to transition to the standardised 22.5 hours per week.
Education Minister Paul Givan said: “The Pre-school Standardisation Programme has already seen 105 settings successfully transition to full time sessions in September 2025. It is already making a difference to over 2,500 children and their families.
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“Today’s announcement is another step forward in my commitment to standardise all funded pre-school education provision to 22.5 hours per week.
“A further 102 settings have been approved to move to full time sessions from September 2026. This will mean that approximately 50% of pre-school provision, in every area of Northern Ireland, will be full time.
“Providing this additional time in the day will allow the children to benefit from the rich play-based learning environment of the pre-school setting, allow pre-school staff more time to interact with and support young learners and also provide access to a funded school meal for eligible children.”
Dara Graham, Preschool Leader at Anahilt Pre-school Playgroup, one of the schools transitioning, said: “I am absolutely delighted that our setting has been chosen to move to the full 22.5 hours.
“This is a fantastic step for our children and families, and we are so proud to be part of this next stage in early years provision. As a community-run, charitable preschool, we see every day how much early education matters, and this decision will allow us to offer even more stability, support and opportunities for our little ones.”
Paul Givan continued: “This investment in our pre-school sector clearly demonstrates the value that I place on early years education in Northern Ireland.”
The full list of 102 pre-schools approved to become full-time in NI
DE Ref
Setting Name
Decision
Constituency
4AB0431
Approved
Lagan Valley
2016068
Approved
West Tyrone
3AB0101
Approved
Mid Ulster
4AB0151
Approved
Lisburn And Castlereagh
4AB0171
Approved
Ards And North Down
4BB0432
Approved
Ards And North Down
4AB0433
Approved
Strangford
2AB0320
Approved
Fermanagh And Omagh
4011683
Approved
Belfast
5AB0228
Approved
Newry, Mourne And Down
4CA0634
Approved
North Down
4BB0375
Approved
Ards And North Down
4BB0170
Approved
Lisburn And Castlereagh
4BB0174
Approved
Strangford
1056483
Approved
Belfast
3BB0360
Approved
North Antrim
4CA0570
Approved
Ards And North Down
1066580
Approved
Belfast South
5AB0188
Approved
Newry and Armagh
3BB0361
Approved
Causeway Coast And Glens
4BA0178
Approved
Lisburn And Castlereagh
4BB0172
Approved
Ards And North Down
2066549
Approved
Fermanagh And South Tyrone
4AB0283
Approved
Strangford
3BB0266
Approved
Causeway Coast And Glens
3AB0133
Approved
East Antrim
3AB0362
Approved
Mid And East Antrim
3AB0084
Approved
Mid Ulster
3AB0115
Approved
Mid Ulster
2AB0315
Approved
West Tyrone
3BB0086
Approved
Mid And East Antrim
5CA0599
Approved
Newry, Mourne And Down
3010781
Approved
Mid And East Antrim
5011611
Approved
South Down
2AB0291
Approved
Derry City And Strabane
3AB0372
Approved
North Antrim
2011787
Approved
Fermanagh And Omagh
2AB0408
Approved
Fermanagh And Omagh
3AB0574
Approved
Mid Ulster
2016218
Approved
Fermanagh And South Tyrone
3BB0488
Approved
Causeway Coast And Glens
4BB0150
Approved
Ards And North Down
4CA0611
Approved
Lisburn And Castlereagh
5AB0192
Approved
Newry, Mourne And Down
3AB0525
Approved
Mid Ulster
2AB0316
Approved
Causeway Coast And Glens
4CA0623
Approved
Lisburn And Castlereagh
3AB0534
Approved
Mid Ulster
4031665
Approved
Newry, Mourne And Down
3AB0575
Approved
Antrim And Newtownabbey
3AB0248
Approved
Causeway Coast And Glens
4011699
Approved
Strangford
5BB0215
Approved
Mid Ulster
5AB0656
Approved
Armagh City, Banbridge And Craigavon
1BB0476
Approved
Belfast
5BB0235
Approved
Newry, Mourne And Down
3AB0114
Approved
Mid Ulster
5046699
Approved
Mid Ulster
2046689
Approved
Causeway Coast And Glens
2046687
Approved
Derry City And Strabane
4AB0154
Approved
Belfast
1AB0670
Approved
Belfast
2832737
Approved
Fermanagh and Omagh
2031898
Approved
Fermanagh And South Tyrone
3AB0092
Approved
Antrim And Newtownabbey
2AB0222
Approved
Fermanagh And Omagh
4066611
Approved
Lisburn And Castlereagh
2066552
Approved
Fermanagh And Omagh
5016658
Approved
Mid Ulster
4036591
Approved
Belfast
5AB0204
Approved
Mid Ulster
3BB0367
Approved
East Londonderry
5AB0209
Approved
Armagh City, Banbridge And Craigavon
3AB0097
Approved
Antrim And Newtownabbey
2AB0056
Approved
West Tyrone
5AB0398
Approved
South Down
4016067
Approved
North Down
1BB0672
Approved
Belfast
2AB0532
Approved
Causeway Coast And Glens
2AB0078
Approved
Fermanagh And South Tyrone
3056248
Approved
Antrim And Newtownabbey
4CA0626
Approved
South Down
4BB0474
Approved
Newry, Mourne And Down
3AB0124
Approved
North Antrim
4BB0495
Approved
Lagan Valley
2056442
Approved
Derry City And Strabane
3AB0138
Approved
Mid Ulster
3AB0258
Approved
Antrim And Newtownabbey
3BB0369
Approved
East Londonderry
3BB0246
Approved
South Antrim
3032281
Approved
Mid Ulster
2AB0036
Approved
Derry City And Strabane
4AB0383
Approved
Lisburn And Castlereagh
4AB0183
Approved
Newry, Mourne And Down
2AB0047
Approved
East Londonderry
3016264
Approved
Causeway Coast And Glens
5BB0403
Approved
Mid Ulster
3013330
Approved
East Antrim
5011598
Approved
Armagh City, Banbridge And Craigavon
3010874
Approved
Mid And East Antrim
3AB0126
Approved
Mid And East Antrim
5AB0418
Approved
Mid Ulster