Free pre-school on the way for tots

EDUCATION will propose that every three- to five-year-old be entitled to 15 hours a week of free pre-school education.

Anything beyond that would then be paid for by parents.

It aims to announce its detailed plan in the last quarter of this year. The board is unanimous in its support of the initiative. It will work with private providers on the scheme, Education minister Robert Sillars, pictured, has confirmed.

'There's a huge amount of evidence that pre-school education around the world has a great value for young children before they start primary school,' said Deputy Sillars. He attended a British Irish Council meeting in Wales recently where he heard from other jurisdictions that are all committed to the education of children from birth.'