Education Minister has highlighted the positive
impact of the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS),
with new figures showing that more than 27,000 children benefited
from the scheme during 2025-26.
New annual data shows that NICSS supported 27,486 children from
20,210 households during the 2025-26 financial year, with
£18.4million paid directly to families through childcare
subsidies. When combined with Tax-Free Childcare (TFC), this
generated an estimated £38.6million in savings for working
parents across Northern Ireland.
said: The data published today
demonstrate the significant contribution that the Northern
Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme is making to eligible working
families across Northern Ireland. We know that childcare costs
remain a major concern for many parents, however NICSS is helping
to ease those financial pressures by making childcare more
affordable and contribute to supporting parents to enter, remain
in, or increase participation in work."
Throughout the 2025-26 year, eligible families could receive
childcare support of up to £184 per child per month, equivalent
to £2,208 per child annually. Analysis of claims data found that
only 2.7% of claims reached the maximum monthly subsidy,
indicating that the current subsidy limits continue to provide
meaningful support for the vast majority of families. This
is also true for those with children below Primary school age
when childcare bills tend to be at their highest; only 3.5% of
these parents claimed the maximum available subsidy.
The Minister continued: It is particularly encouraging to see
that very few families reached the maximum subsidy cap during the
year. This suggests that the current subsidy levels continue to
provide meaningful support across the range of childcare costs
experienced for the vast majority of working parents."
The NICSS data provides valuable insight into how families are
using formal childcare. While the average cost of a full-time day
nursery place was £1,210 per month as of April 2025, the average
childcare invoice submitted through NICSS for day nursery users
was £683 per month. Only 4% of claims related to childcare costs
exceeding £1,200 per month, suggesting that many parents are not
using full-time childcare provision.
This reflects the 2024 NISRA Childcare Survey findings, which
highlighted the range of childcare arrangements used by families
due to potentially a combination of affordability considerations,
parental working arrangements, the use of informal childcare, and
the availability of other forms of provision.
concluded: "The Northern Ireland
Childcare Subsidy Scheme continues to support eligible working
families.
The extension of the scheme to school-age childcare in September
2025 marked an important step forward, while the continued
concentration of support among younger children reflects where
childcare costs and demand are greatest. The data highlights the
ongoing value of the NICSS in helping families access the
childcare they need."
The full publication, including detailed tables and supporting
information, is available at: https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/northern-ireland-childcare-subsidy-scheme-nicss-administrative-data
Further information is available in the Written Ministerial
Statement, available at: https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/written-ministerial-statement-northern-ireland-childcare-subsidy-scheme-nicss-administrative-data-publication
