AQW 20878/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 24/06/2021
Answered On Date: 01/07/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education for an update on the outcome in Learning to Learn - A Framework for Early Years Education and Learning to issue guidance on reducing the length of settling in time for pre-school and Year 1.

Answer:

The Department issued Circular Number 2015/11 and an associated guidance document in April 2015 setting out guidance on induction and transition for pre-school education and primary 1. The guidance advises that the majority of children should be settled into the pre-school setting within the first two to three weeks of September, with all children attending daily, for their full session, no later than the end of September.

These documents are available online at:

https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/circular-201511-guidance-induction-and-transition-pre-school-and-year-one; and

https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/de/guidance-on-induction-and-transition-pre-school-education-and-year-1.pdf

At the time of issue, the circular was sent to nursery and primary schools, managing authorities, and those pre-school settings participating in the Pre-school Education Programme (PSEP).

As new settings may enter the PSEP annually, the information is brought to their attention by the Education Authority and is included in the Information booklet for Pre-School Providers.