AQW 40053/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of non-statutory pre-school providers that have had their Pupil Allocation Numbers increased for the 2026-2027 intake.
Asked by Michelle Guy MLA on 6 February 2026
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 6 February 2026
- Answer due by
- 23 February 2026
- Answered
- 12 February 20266 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Education
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The Education Authority Pre-School Education Group (EA PEG) has responsibility for the allocation of Pupil Admission Numbers (PANs) for non-statutory pre-school settings participating in the Pre-School Education Programme (PSEP). The EA wrote to all settings on 4 November 2025 to advise them of their provisional PAN allocation for the 2026/27 academic year.
The 2026/27 pre-school admissions process remains ongoing at this time and the EA will continue to review local provision in all areas throughout the process and may adjust PANs for settings where it is appropriate to do so to meet demand. The EA has advised that as of 10 February a total of 35 non-statutory settings have had their PAN increased for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Final PAN allocations for settings will not be determined until the close of Stage Two of the admissions process.