Nursery schools

Nursery schools and classes staffed by teachers and assistants, provide a non-compulsory phase of education suitable for children in the year before they immediately go to primary schools. However, some places may be available for younger children.

Admission criteria

Places are allocated to children on the basis of a school's admission criteria, combined with the parent's stated order of preference for the setting they wish their child to attend.

However, both statutory and voluntary providers are required to give priority in their admissions criteria to children from socially disadvantaged circumstances and to the oldest four year old children (those with July and August birthdays).

More about nursery schools, including how to obtain an application form and when to return it by, is available from your local education and library board:

• Education and Library Boards (contacts section)
• Find schools and nurseries (do it online section)

What does a nursery school offer?

Most places are available:

• at least two and a half hours per day
• five days per week
• for at least 38 weeks during the period September to June

Some may offer full-time places - around four hours with lunch usually available.

All nursery schools are registered and inspected by the Education and Training Inspectorate.

• Education and Training Inspectorate (contacts section)

Children who attend a nursery school get the chance to play and learn alongside other children, and acquire skills that give them a headstart at school.

• children have the opportunity to play and learn as well as have fun with friends
• children will be in a group led by a trained teacher
• it can be free

Parents who work full-time may need to arrange for other childcare to fit around the hours worked. Children may also need to be toilet-trained and classes are usually only open during the school term.

Things to check with nursery schools

• the staff ratio premises and level of supervision, which should be constant
• the atmosphere should be calm, happy and well-ordered, with plenty of positive reinforcement
• what trips they do and how well organised they are
• toys and equipment - they should be in good condition and accessible
• how open staff are with parents - feedback is essential

Questions to ask nursery schools

• how much continuity of care is there? Pre-schoolers dislike lots of change and take time to get used to new people
• is there a good mix of creative play, free play and sitting down activities?
• do they have the opportunity for physical play and outdoor activities?