BELFAST EAST · CONTROLLED

Braniel PS NU (Belfast) FT

DE reference 4011683 · Managed by the Education Authority.

Official profile and criteria

2026/27 intake in brief

Oversubscribed

In 2026/27, 50 target-age children listed Braniel PS NU (Belfast) FT as their first choice. The setting had 52 funded places. 45 of them were offered a place there and 5 were not. 7 places went to target-age children who ranked it second or lower. No places were left at the end of Stage 2.

52funded places
50target-age first choices
5first choices not placed
0places left after Stage 2

Ranked 6 of 18 Belfast East settings by first-choice applicants per place (0.96 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: 78 places782024/25: 38 first-choice target-age applicants382024/252025/26: 78 places782025/26: 28 first-choice target-age applicants282025/262026/27: 52 places522026/27: 50 first-choice target-age applicants502026/27
  • 2024/25 Oversubscribed 38 first choices for 78 places · 0 left
  • 2025/26 Oversubscribed 28 first choices for 78 places · 0 left
  • 2026/27 Oversubscribed 50 first choices for 52 places · 0 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
Braniel PS NU (Belfast) FTTarget age5250331574533152
Braniel PS NU (Belfast) FTUnderage521410873900000
2025/26 intake · end of Stage 2
ProgrammeAge groupPlacesApplicationsOffered a place
1st2nd3rdOtherTotal1st2nd3rdOtherTotal
Braniel PS NU (Belfast) FTTarget age2626886482114026
Braniel PS NU (Belfast) FTUnderage26196773900000
Braniel PS NU (Belfast) PTTarget age52265821265821
Braniel PS NU (Belfast) PTUnderage521515818567851131
2024/25 intake · end of Stage 2
ProgrammeAge groupPlacesApplicationsOffered a place
1st2nd3rdOtherTotal1st2nd3rdOtherTotal
Braniel PS NU (Belfast) FTTarget age2636564512600026
Braniel PS NU (Belfast) PTTarget age52273820263718
Braniel PS NU (Belfast) FTUnderage2683431800000
Braniel PS NU (Belfast) PTUnderage521511493914104634

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

Belmont Playcare PG (Belfast)

Belfast East · Voluntary

Places left
40places
31first choices
5left after Stage 2
First-choice applicants per place: 2024/25 1.02, 2025/26 1.0, 2026/27 0.78demand 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
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.