Parents have raised concerns that their children face being moved into older age groups at school before they are ready, under a change to entry regulations.
In December, the Ministry of Education announced children would be able to begin foundation stage one (FS1) under the British curriculum – pre-kindergarten in other systems – if they were to turn three by December 31 in the relevant admission year. The age cut-off was previously August 31.
The move means children could begin FS1 while aged two, as long as they turn three before the end of that calendar year. The regulations also apply to admissions for FS2, Year 1 and Year 2.
Parents thought the rules, which authorities said would apply only to new admissions from September 2026, were discretionary and that families would have the final say on which age group their children entered.
The issue appears to have been felt most in Dub
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