Northern Ireland Preschool Selection

pwinky69

Just got our letter advising our son didn't get into any of his first six choices. Anyone else having the same difficulties? I'm in Bangor.

Saucepanhead

I got our letter today thankfully saying my DD got into our first choice nursery but I`m in Enniskillen. I wouldn't know what to do if she didn't get in. I'm sorry your son didn't. Can you appeal?

chicksy

That is so disappointing. May be worth appealing though.
The lady who runs the playgroup my son goes to said this time last year 12 kids had not got a place anywhere but by September only 2 of them didnt get a place.
Lots can happen between now and then.

quintwins

i had this this time last year for my twins i'm no portadown tho, we were very lucky tho that our first choice extended and added a new class they sent us a letter offering them places in june and they started in oct

there should be a list of availible places in your letter however there was very few left on ours and they were all either the wrong religion for us or in a very rough area, we tried to appeal but were told that there was no point they just didn't have enough places

good luck

vipergrm

Sorry got my naivety here, but how soon do you need to apply for pre-school? My daughter was born in June 2009. Does this mean she goes to Pre-school when she's 3 or 4???

chicksy

They go to preschool in the school year in which they will turn 4 so for your child they will be one of the youngest in the class.
In your childs case they will start Sept 2012. You will need to aply next January.

caz2703

What about an August 2009 baby? I too am in Bangor at present and if the OP doesn't mind, would they be able to say which pre-schools their child was turned down for and if the child in question is a summer baby? I've been told that my DS will get a higher preference as he's a summer baby but not sure how true that is.

typhoon

caz2703 wrote: »

What about an August 2009 baby? I too am in Bangor at present and if the OP doesn't mind, would they be able to say which pre-schools their child was turned down for and if the child in question is a summer baby? I've been told that my DS will get a higher preference as he's a summer baby but not sure how true that is.

The cut-off is July, so I THINK you may have to wait for the following year - I have a September 09 baby myself. My January 08 child just got a place in her first choice nursery for September intake, I'm sure it's very disappointing for other people who didn't get anything at all, it seems a very strange system.

Leothecat

My niece (in Bangor) also Jan 08, just got into her first choice too.

quintwins

the main way they work it out is how close you live to the school, in our case we have no nursery within 5miles so we knew we may be turned down, we also know we might not get into our first school of choice as there is a little country school round the corner but will have to wait and see

if your unsure when to apply i phoned the selb pre-school helpline (found number on the selb website) and they told me when to apply, however you only ahve a window of around 20days to apply

pwinky69

My child was born in May 2008. It does not go by where you live. The priorities are people on benefits with the oldest children in their year.