(2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3) Type of Setting | Age of Children | Governed By | Qualifications Offered | Other Comments | Play Group | 2 to 3 | Private Individuals or Charities | Learn through play | Playgroup is an organised group providing care & socialisation for children under 5; it is less formal than a pre-school education of nursery school. They do not provide full time care operating for only a few hours per day during school term time. | Nursery School | 3 to 4 | Department of Education | Learn through play | A nursery school is a school for children between the ages of one and four years, staffed by suitably qualified and other professionals who encourage and supervise educational play rather than simply providing childcare. | Pre-School | 4 to 5 | Department of Education | Learning through play & other experiences, Arts, language development, early mathematical experiences, personal social & emotional development, physical development & the world around us. | Early years funding was introduced in 2006, this is a free part-time nursery, children are entitled to 5 two hour sessions per week for 38 weeks a year. Participation for pre-school is not compulsory but it does prepare children for compulsory education. | Primary School | 4 to 11 | Department of Education & Board of Governors | Foundation Stage ages 4 to 6, key stage 1 ages 6 to 8, key Stage 2 ages 8 to 11 | Seven areas of learning-Language & Literacy, Mathematics and Numeracy, The Arts, Personal development & mutual understanding, RE & Physical Education. | Secondary School | 11 to 16 unless a Sixth Form College is attached | Department of Education & Board of Governors | Key Stage 3 ages 11 to 14, Key Stage 4 ages 14 to 16, GCSEs & A-Level | Areas of learning include The Arts, language & literacy, the environment & society, modern languages, mathematics & numeracy, PE, science & technology and RE. | Integrated School | 4 to 18 | Department of Education | GCSEs & A-Levels | This school consists of people from all races; the integrated education school movement in Northern Ireland is an attempt to bring together children, parents and teachers from both Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions. | Independent Schools | 7 to 18 | Board of Governors (Elected by independent means) | GCSEs, BTEC & A-Levels | An independent school is a school that in its finances & governance, it is not dependant on national or local government for financing its operations. It is funded by tuition charges, gifts & sometimes charitable trust funds. | Irish Medium School | 4 to 18 | Department of Education | GCSEs & A-Levels | Irish speaking schools either independent or attached to an English medium host school, currently there are 33 throughout Northern Ireland with an additional 2 truly independent schools | Boarding School | Junior 4 to 11, Senior 11 to 16, 6th form 16 to 20 | Its’ own Senate | GCSEs & A-Levels | Boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study & live during the school year with their fellow students & possibly teachers, Boarding schools require fees for example year 10 to year 13 the grand total would be £16,000 this would help fund the school. | Type of Setting | Age of Children | Governed By | Qualifications Offered | Other Comments | Special School | 7 to 25 | Department of Education/voluntary-sectorparent-governed organisation | Tests, assignments are on-going with children in special education programs, These can include curriculum based assessments using chapter texts from a text, created to measure specific goals and child’s IEP(Individual Education Program) | Special schools are designed to specifically meet the complex needs of a child whilst ensuring that every individual gets help to achieve their own exceptional outcome. | Grammar School | 11 to 16 unless a Sixth Form College is attached | Department of Education | GCSEs and A-Level | A grammar school