AQW 27370/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education
To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 27069/22-27, for the data over the last five years to be broken down by constituency.
Asked by Michelle Guy MLA on 19 May 2025
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 19 May 2025
- Answer due by
- 4 June 2025
- Answered
- 23 May 20254 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Education
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The table below sets out the number of penultimate age children that have been placed in funded statutory pre-school places over the last five academic years, broken down by constituency:
| Constituency | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24* | 2024/25 |
| Belfast East | 40 | 51 | 46 | N/A | 88 |
| Belfast North | 40 | 126 | 72 | N/A | 130 |
| Belfast South | 13 | 22 | 15 | N/A | 30 |
| Belfast West | 50 | 147 | 149 | N/A | 184 |
| East Antrim | 96 | 81 | 105 | N/A | 101 |
| East Londonderry | 38 | 53 | 47 | N/A | 76 |
| Fermanagh And South Tyrone | 47 | 43 | 76 | N/A | 56 |
| Foyle | 77 | 86 | 103 | N/A | 54 |
| Lagan Valley | 37 | 35 | 39 | N/A | 69 |
| Mid Ulster | 22 | 59 | 58 | N/A | 43 |
| Newry And Armagh | 58 | 42 | 50 | N/A | 76 |
| North Antrim | 117 | 79 | 133 | N/A | 69 |
| North Down | 8 | 31 | 46 | N/A | 65 |
| South Antrim | 84 | 82 | 114 | N/A | 76 |
| South Down | 31 | 57 | 34 | N/A | 42 |
| Strangford | 66 | 63 | 55 | N/A | 29 |
| Upper Bann | 63 | 81 | 68 | N/A | 122 |
| West Tyrone | 80 | 121 | 132 | N/A | 86 |
| Total | 967 | 1,259 | 1,342 | N/A | 1,396 |
*Data relating to 2023/24 was impacted by industrial action, due to Action Short of Strike (ASOS). Although data was received from all schools, for 25% of schools (primary, post primary and special schools) pupil level information was not received in electronic format. It also meant it was not possible to fully undertake normal validation processes.
As advised in AQW 27069/22-27, the pre-school admission process is a two-stage process.
Applications in respect of penultimate age pupils for the 2025/26 academic year will be considered during stage two of the process; decisions regarding stage two offers will be communicated to applicants on 10 June 2025.