EA committed to creating better understanding of pre-school process

A number of recommendations have followed a review of the Pupil Allocation Number (PAN) process used by the Pre-School Education Group in awarding places for non-statutory settings.

The review was carried out by the Education Authority (EA), in conjunction with pre-school settings and the Department of Education (DE), and can be read in full on the EA website.

Following a request from the Education Minister, Paul Givan MLA, the views of non-statutory pre-school settings were gathered from extensive communications received during the admissions process for the 2025-26 academic year.

Meetings with providers and consultation with representatives of the sector, including those who are part of the Pre-School Education Group (PEG) also formed part of the review exercise.

Work will now begin to deliver a number of recommendations in readiness for the 2026-27 admissions process. These include the publication of historical admissions data for individual non-statutory settings, to support parents in their decision-making and providing increased clarity to the sector on how the PAN process operates.  

This will include information on how and when PAN allocations are made, changed and adjusted. Work will also take place to outline how and at what stage a non-statutory setting can request a review of a PAN allocation decision. 

The review can be read in full on the EA’s website.

Chris Scott, the EA’s Pre-School Standardisation Programme Director and Chairman of the Pre-School Education Group  said:

“The pre-school admissions process is highly successful, with over 99% of target-aged children, whose parents stay with the process to the end, receiving an offer in a setting of their parent’s preference by the end of stage two in each of the last six years. 

“Nonetheless, as with any process, improvements are possible, and we welcome this opportunity for review. We are grateful to the Department of Education for their support and input to the review, and to the many stakeholders who fed into the review process.

“The EA is committed to improving understanding among providers and the wider public and will work at pace to provide reassurance to parents, providers and all those involved in the pre-school admissions process.”