North Antrim MP Jim Allister has criticised the Education Authority's policy on pre-school places. He states that the policy fails children across the constituency. Allister points to communities including Cloughmills, Armoy and The Grange.

Allister says the authority bases funding on previous year's intake figures instead of current demand. This leaves dozens of children without local places. He calls on the authority to provide funding where demand exists.

In Cloughmills, nine families lack places at Cloughmills Early Years playgroup. The playgroup has physical capacity for more children. The authority has not increased the pupil application number or funding.

Parents in Cloughmills note that older siblings attend the local primary school. Places outside the village create separate drop-off and pick-up schedules. Local mother Stacey Smyth says the five-mile radius policy ignores family logistics.

The authority states that sufficient places exist within a five-mile radius. For the 2026-27 academic year in the Causeway Coast and Glens area, 1242 first-preference applications were received for 1480 places. The authority reports enough capacity across Northern Ireland.

North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew calls for an urgent investigation into the issue. TUV MLA Timothy Gaston raised the matter in the Northern Ireland Assembly with Education Minister Paul Givan. Gaston also cited Taylorstown Cross Community Pre-school in Toomebridge.