Debate contribution: Playgroups in West Tyrone: EA Admission Allocations

Debate contribution by Miss Nicola Brogan on 18 March 2025.

MLA

Miss Nicola Brogan

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

18 March 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Adjournment

Heading

Playgroups in West Tyrone: EA Admission Allocations

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4860849

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle.

I am pleased to have secured an Adjournment debate on behalf of a number of community-based playgroups in West Tyrone. I thank the Minister for attending to respond to the debate this afternoon. I will take the opportunity to discuss a number of issues that are plaguing community and voluntary playgroups in West Tyrone. While I will speak specifically about community-based playgroups in my constituency, it is worth acknowledging that these and other issues are faced by rural playgroups and preschools all over the North. I commend the excellent work of the teachers, group leaders, staff and volunteers in those groups. They provide a service that is not only of the highest standard but vital to the functioning of safe, fair and thriving rural communities. Playgroups help to prepare children for school, develop their social skills and foster a sense of community. They provide local jobs, boost the rural economy and, crucially, allow parents, particularly those who are women, to return to the workforce. The sector faces multiple issues that the Assembly has a duty to address: staff recruitment and retention; inequality in funding and pay scales; support for children with special educational needs; and support for playgroups in areas of deprivation. However, I will focus on the Education Authority's (EA) rigid approach to pupil allocation numbers (PAN). Using attendance figures from previous years is a perfectly reasonable way to estimate future attendance needs, but the key word is "estimate". Populations rise and fall, and birth rates fluctuate. Just because a playgroup had nine children last year does not mean that it will need space for nine children this year. That approach is perfectly fine to use as a guideline, but there must be some wriggle room within it for the realities of life. Representatives from playgroups in West Tyrone have approached me and said that they have the provision and demand to take on 16 children, but they have only been allocated nine spaces this year. Other groups have said that they have only been given nine spots, but they are the first-preference choice for 10 children, all of whom are equally qualified and equally deserving. It is not as simple as saying that parents should just find another playgroup. In rural areas such as West Tyrone, that may not be so easy. Some may have to travel well outside of their village or town to attend another playgroup. Other groups may not be convenient for work. The children's relatives may attend the preferred playgroup or it may be a feeder preschool for a school that their siblings are at. The playgroups have tried to work with the Education Authority. Their commitment to the local community is such that some have even suggested taking on an extra child without EA funding, but, despite those extraordinary efforts, the Education Authority has not tried to meet them halfway. Instead, it responded by telling them that, if they do not accept the lower allocation number, they will lose all their spaces for the year. That is simply an outrageous way to treat hardworking community groups that provide a vital service. I call on the Education Minister to look into the issue as a matter of urgency. I further urge the Education Minister and the Education Authority to work with groups in West Tyrone to find the best possible outcome for preschools, for parents and, most importantly, for the children in the area. Community-based playgroups in West Tyrone and right across the North play a vital role in our communities. They deserve to be supported by the Department of Education and the Education Authority. I hope that the Minister hears our calls, works with the playgroups and increases the PAN allocations.

625 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:11 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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