Applications open for pre-school and P1 places across Northern Ireland

Applications for pre-school and Primary One (P1) places for children starting education in September 2026 have officially opened through the Education Authority’s (EA) online EA Connect portal.

More than 40,000 applications are expected across Northern Ireland for the incoming academic year, making this one of the most significant annual processes for families preparing children for their first step into formal education.

Parents and guardians have until 12 noon on Tuesday, 21 January to submit their application and are being strongly encouraged to list at least four pre-school settings or primary schools, ranked in order of preference, to maximise the chances of securing a suitable place.

Importance of Checking Admissions Criteria

Before beginning an application, families are advised to carefully review the published admissions criteria for each pre-school setting or primary school they wish to nominate.

The criteria can be accessed via the EA website using the ‘Find a School’ function or by selecting the Admissions tab on the EA homepage. Parents and guardians must ensure they include all relevant information explaining how their child meets the admissions criteria for each preference listed.

In addition to a child’s birth certificate, applicants may also be required to upload supporting documentation, depending on individual school or pre-school requirements.

Support Available for Parents and Carers

Recognising the pressures many families face during the admissions process, the Education Authority has made a range of online resources available to guide parents and carers through each stage of the application.

For those who need information in a different language, translation support is available by clicking the ‘ReachDeck’ icon or selecting ‘Translate’ from the website menu options.

The Admissions Helpdesk is also available to provide direct support and operates Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. Parents and carers can contact the team by telephone on 028 9047 0177, or by email at:

• preschooladmissions@eani.org.uk

• primaryadmissions@eani.org.uk

Children with Special Educational Needs

Parents of children who are currently undergoing statutory assessment but do not yet have a Statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) must still apply for a funded pre-school or primary place through EA Connect.

However, where a child already has a Statement of Special Educational Needs, placement will be discussed as part of the annual review process. In these cases, the Statutory Assessment & Review Service (SARS) will arrange placement directly, and parents should not submit an application via EA Connect.

Further information is available from SARS by contacting 028 9031 7777, option 1.

Post-Primary Applications Opening Soon

Parents of children due to transfer to Post-Primary Year 8 in September 2026 are advised that applications for post-primary places will open on 27 January 2026 from 12 noon via EA Connect.

Further guidance and application support can be found by visiting the EA website at www.eani.org.uk.