evidence: Most children in Northern Ireland attend pre-school for one year before starting primary school. Government funds a pre-school place for every child whose family want it but it is not compulsory for children to attend pre-school. Children then start primary school aged 4 or 5. [...] The School Age (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 allows the parents/ guardians of Young for Year children to defer the start of pre-school and, in turn, primary school for their child for one year. If the child defers prior to starting pre-school, they will then start pre-school in September following their 4th birthday and primary school in September following their 5th birthday.