Education Minister has welcomed the highest level
of Pathway funding to date of £6.626million for 876 eligible
providers in 2025-26.
The Pathway Fund provides financial contribution towards
provision and resources which promote social, physical,
intellectual, communication and educational development of
children at risk of educational underachievement.
said: “This year I have
been able to deliver the highest ever level of funding allocated
through the Pathway Fund. This will help support high quality
provision and increased opportunities for our youngest learners
to develop and thrive.
"These increased allocations have been facilitated by
securing a further £2.837m for Pathway Fund from the Executive to
support Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) measures in
2025-26.
"This has enabled all 876 eligible applicants to receive
an award for 2025-26. This year, I have increased the maximum
amount of funding available to Early Years settings by £10,000 to
£40,000, in recognition of the increased running costs for
providers. This year, 217 settings have received an award – an
increase from 175 last year.
"I have also introduced a new funding stream for Approved
Home Childcarers and childminders. This has allowed 659 eligible
applicants from this group to receive awards of up to
£500.”
The Minister visited one of the recipients of the Pathway
Funding, Bloomfield Playgroup this week to see first-hand how the
fund is helping to support early learning.
said: “It was fantastic
to see how the fund contributes to enriched play and learning
opportunities and to hear from the staff about how this helps the
children to develop and thrive. I am also encouraged to see the
obvious dedication of staff to nurturing the children they care
for.”
Notes to editors:
- In 2024-25, there were 175 (Stream A and B) Pathway awards to
Early Years settings. For 2025-26 a total of 876 awards,
including 217 from Stream A and B to Early Years settings and 659
from the new Stream C to childminders and Approved Home
Childcarers.
