New pre-school scheme announced

The Department of Education and Children and a Council of Ministers Working Party has come up with the scheme following the announcement that free pre-school provision was to end. 

Under the new scheme all families will be entitled to a credit of £350 per year, per child, towards the cost of attending privately run facilities. 

There will be an additional £800added to this for children who would be entitled to free school meals, taking the total credit to £1,150 for children from families on low incomes. 

The department has said the new scheme is fairer as it will offer support to all children and not just the 50 per cent it previously helped.