BELFAST EAST · VOLUNTARY

Belmont Playcare PG (Belfast)

DE reference 1BB0494 · Voluntary playgroups and settings funded through the Pre-School Education Programme.

Official profile and criteria

2026/27 intake in brief

Places left

In 2026/27, 31 target-age children listed Belmont Playcare PG (Belfast) as their first choice. The setting had 40 funded places. All of them were offered a place. 4 places went to target-age children who ranked it second or lower. 5 places were still unfilled at the end of Stage 2.

40funded places
31target-age first choices
0first choices not placed
5places left after Stage 2

Ranked 13 of 18 Belfast East settings by first-choice applicants per place (0.78 here; 0.83 across Belfast).

Three intakes compared

Funded places against the number of target-age children who listed this setting first.

  • Funded places
  • Target-age children who chose it first
2024/25: 40 places402024/25: 41 first-choice target-age applicants412024/252025/26: 40 places402025/26: 40 first-choice target-age applicants402025/262026/27: 40 places402026/27: 31 first-choice target-age applicants312026/27
  • 2024/25 Oversubscribed 41 first choices for 40 places · 0 left
  • 2025/26 Oversubscribed 40 first choices for 40 places · 0 left
  • 2026/27 Places left 31 first choices for 40 places · 5 left

Admissions criteria

Each setting decides who gets a place when it has more applicants than places. Criteria commonly include target age, siblings, distance or other circumstances. Some give priority to a first preference.

Criteria for September 2027 are due on 9 December 2026. Find them on the EA profile .

Before you rank it

  • Read the criteria for your intake year, not an older one.
  • Check the session times (full-time or part-time) suit your family.
  • Visit or call if you can, and ask whether the setting holds an open day.

Full figures by preference

“1st” counts children who listed this setting as their first preference, and so on. “Other” is fourth or later. Places cover the whole programme, shared by both age groups.

2026/27 intake · end of Stage 2
ProgrammeAge groupPlacesApplicationsOffered a place
1st2nd3rdOtherTotal1st2nd3rdOtherTotal
Belmont Playcare PG (Belfast)Target age4031130353113035
Belmont Playcare PG (Belfast)Underage400000000000
2025/26 intake · end of Stage 2
ProgrammeAge groupPlacesApplicationsOffered a place
1st2nd3rdOtherTotal1st2nd3rdOtherTotal
Belmont Playcare PG (Belfast)Target age4040363523910040
Belmont Playcare PG (Belfast)Underage400000000000
2024/25 intake · end of Stage 2
ProgrammeAge groupPlacesApplicationsOffered a place
1st2nd3rdOtherTotal1st2nd3rdOtherTotal
Belmont Playcare PG (Belfast)Target age4041764583910040

ALTERNATIVES

Belfast East settings with places left in 2026/27

See all →

McArthur Nursery School (Belfast)

Belfast East · Controlled

Places left
52places
9first choices
19left after Stage 2
First-choice applicants per place: 2024/25 0.48, 2025/26 0.37, 2026/27 0.17demand trend
Places remained after Stage 2

St Matthew's PS NU (Belfast)

Belfast East · Catholic Maintained

Places left
52places
31first choices
16left after Stage 2
First-choice applicants per place: 2024/25 0.69, 2025/26 0.77, 2026/27 0.6demand trend
Places remained after Stage 2

Wee Care Day Nurseries PG (Kings Road)

Belfast East · Private

Places left
32places
26first choices
5left after Stage 2
First-choice applicants per place: 2024/25 0.94, 2025/26 0.78, 2026/27 0.81demand trend
Places remained after Stage 2

Naiscoil na Seolta PG (Belfast)

Belfast East · Voluntary Integrated Irish Medium

Places left
16places
13first choices
1left after Stage 2
First-choice applicants per place: 2024/25 0.75, 2025/26 1.0, 2026/27 0.81demand trend
Places remained after Stage 2
How to read these figures

The Education Authority counts applications and allocations at the end of Stage 2. A child can appear in several settings’ application counts but is offered at most one place. Late changes, withdrawals and offers made after Stage 2 are not included, so the figures are not live vacancies.

“Target age” children are in their final pre-school year and are placed first. “Underage” children are a year younger and only receive places that remain. More about the data.