Fears children could miss out again in nursery places

Ms Cassells, together with other principals, parents and local politicians, has been campaigning over the last year for greater flexibility to allow statutory pre-schools to accept greater numbers of children or to add classes to the schools.

She is also calling on the Department of Education to review the criteria used to allocate children to nursery school places, saying that the current criteria is now outdated.

“Last year there weren’t enough pre-school places in the Lisburn area,” explained Ms Cassells. “The Department, through the Education and Library Boards, can only create playgroup places quickly but traditionally it is teacher-led places that parents want.”

Mrs Cassells explained that whilst the curriculum in playgroups and nursery schools is the same, in nursery schools the classes are teacher-led. She also stressed that there is a greater administrative burden on statutory nursery schools such as Barbour, which makes it very difficult for the school to increase its capacity.

“Statutory nursery schools and units have to undergo a development proposal in order to increase or decrease their enrolment number,” she continued. “This can take months and years to be approved and is more often than not rejected by the Education Minister. The private/voluntary sector can make an application for PEAG (Pre-school Education Advisory Group) funded places and can have their application granted in a very short space of time.”

Barbour Nursery School had hoped to increase its enrolment but has been told it is unlikely to be approved. “We have made enquiries about adding an additional full time class to the school but this has been dismissed as being ‘unlikely in the current economic climate’.

“It is cheaper to create a place in a private/voluntary setting but not necessarily cost effective in the long term.”

Ms Cassells is advising parents to include as many choices as possible on their application form, which will be available from local nursery schools from the start of December.

“They must put as many choices as possible on their application forms,” she explained. “It is recommended that parents visit as many open day/nights as possible and think about travelling maybe a bit further than they would like to.”

Parents with children at Barbour Nursery are supporting the school’s call for an increase in places for local children.

Joanne Doak said: “Parents should not be put through the unnecessary worry, stress and heartache when trying to do the best for their children. Early years education is vital and the government must address this in order to provide the correct environment for all pre-school children.

“More places need to be made available to make this what should be a joyful transition from home to pre-school easier for all involved.”

Parent Noeleen Neill added: “The distinctive quality of teacher led nursery provision is the high standard of teacher training which means children benefit from a stimulating and creative environment where every activity has a learning outcome.”

Application forms will be available from next week and the closing date for submissions is 12noon on January 11. “Parents must apply on time,” stressed Ms Cassells.