Parents who wish to send their child to pre-school before they become three should discuss this with their local authority . If there are places available, some authorities may permit this, but parents may be required to meet the costs of their child's education before they become three. Parents who think that their child is eligible should contact their local authority to register them for a place. Most local authorities will provide places using different types of providers. All registered centres will be inspected by HMI and in addition, authorities have their own systems for supporting quality in their own and partner centres.
Most people choose a centre either near to their home or to their place of work.
Parents who are unsure of their nearest centre can contact their local childcare information service who can provide details of all registered centres in their area. ChildcareLink also provides a range of information by region. Most centres will provide information on the services they offer and will be happy for parents to look around before choosing. In some parts of the country, local authorities have established or partnered Gaelic medium centres and the Government are providing extra resources to encourage further provision to meet demand. Parents should speak to their local authority about what is available in their area.