The Education Authority (EA) has apologised after thousands of parents were contacted early about their child’s school place.

The EA said that they were investigating why the error happened.

Parents applying to P1 or pre-school for their children were previously told by the EA that they would be notified on 9 April about their child’s place.

However, the majority of parents applying received an email instead early on Thursday morning, almost a week early.

A parent who spoke anonymously to BBC News NI said that they had been told their child had not been allocated a school place.

“We have tried to phone the EA about five or six times since early this morning and we can’t get through,” they said.

The mistake by the EA also puts extra pressure on school principals, who have been responding to calls from parents earlier than expected.

The principal of Comber Primary School, Chris Logan, said principals are “having to adapt very quickly”.

“It’s very unfortunate because it puts pressure on schools to communicate early with parents about Nursery and P1 places,” he told BBC News NI.

“We’ve parents contacting us asking to be shown around the school.

“And schools may not be in a position yet of contacting parents about things like induction days for their children.

“We were planning to give parents that information at the due time, but we’re going to have to get on with it now.”

“We’ll cope with it but it’s extra pressure.”

Catherine O’Hagan, from the Four Winds area of Belfast, received the email on Thursday morning to say her son was not accepted into any of his four pre-school preferences.

“What’s disappointing is obviously when you hear news like that you immediately think: ‘Oh what do I do next?’ but because the email went out early none of that information is available,” she told BBC News NI.

“And you’re also like is that email accurate? Because it does seem unbelievable that he wouldn’t get any of the four places, we were in the catchment area for all of them.

“Also, the places I put down I was restricted because me and my husband work full time and we need wrap around care from our crèche.

“So, there is only a certain number of places that they provide that for.”

Catherine said she was “taken back” by the early email but she had hopes that it was a mistake.

“The hope comes in because you’re thinking: ‘Well this shouldn’t have been sent anyway so is this a mistake?’

“I’m waiting to see about getting on waiting lists for those pre-schools that my day care offer wrap around for.”

The Alliance assembly member, Michelle Guy, who is a member of Stormont’s Education Committee, said that the EA “need to review how this has happened and ensure it doesn’t happen again”.

“I have been in touch with the EA who have confirmed the emails were sent out early in error,” she said.

“The important update for parents is the information on the letter is accurate in terms of the place their child has been allocated.

“I have spoken to parents who are very anxious.

“Some have received an email with a place for their child and some haven’t.

“Principals of schools I have spoken have also been left in the dark and are working to try and get information to worried parents.”

Guy said the EA need to “swiftly clarify the situation and get information out to all parents that have applied for a place for their child”.

“They also need to support schools who will be dealing with a lot of calls and messages,” she said.

“Once this immediate situation is dealt with the EA need to review how this has happened and ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

In a statement to BBC News NI a spokesperson for the EA said that “most parents/carers of children going through the pre-school and primary school admissions process for the 2025-26 academic year will have received an early notification of outcome this morning by email”.

“We are currently investigating why the system issued notifications earlier than scheduled and we apologise for any inconvenience caused,” they added.

“Please be assured the outcome of your child’s application in your email is correct.

“Parents/carers will be able to log on to EA Connect and accept/reject their child’s place, or list other preferences, from 12 noon on Monday 7 April.

“There is no need to contact schools and pre-school settings.

“If you have not received an email, please contact our Admissions team on 028 9047 0177.”

Children with a statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) are placed through a separate process, and usually find out much later in the school year what school they will go to so they have not been affected by the EA error.