Northern Ireland Education Minister has today launched a draft
Executive Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Strategy that could
see childcare costs for working families subsidised by more than
50%.
The draft Strategy, agreed by the Executive, sets out plans to
transform early learning and childcare in Northern Ireland by
expanding provision, easing financial pressures on families and
strengthening the sustainability of the childcare sector. A
public consultation has now been launched on the Strategy and the
proposals to reform early learning and childcare.
said: “Today marks an important
milestone for children, families and the early learning and
childcare sector across Northern
Ireland. The draft
Strategy builds on the progress already
made and sets out ambitious proposals to position Northern
Ireland among the leading international models of early learning
and childcare support.
“Since September 2024, almost 19,000 families have
benefitted from the Childcare Subsidy Scheme, generating
£19million in savings, rising to an estimated £40million when
combined with Tax-Free Childcare.
“My ambition is clear. I want to deliver even greater
childcare savings for families, reaching a point where more than
half of childcare costs for working families are
subsidised.”
The draft Strategy sets out the Executive's plans to support
children's development, ease financial pressures on working
families and ensure that the childcare sector is stable and
sustainable.
It sets out plans to provide universal full-time pre-school
education, prioritise the development and introduction of an
Early Years Curriculum (ELC) Framework and a longer-term
objective to expand developmental provision to all 2 to 3
years-olds. There are also proposals to provide additional ELC
support for children with special educational needs and
disabilities and a plan to strengthen the childcare workforce,
both centre-based provision and home-based childminders.
continued: “This draft
Strategy is the product of extensive work. It has been shaped by
engagement with parents, providers and stakeholders; informed by
research and evidence; and guided by the recommendations of
independent reviews. It has also been developed on a
cross-departmental basis, recognising that early learning and
childcare touches education, health, communities and the
economy.
“The draft Strategy sets out how we build on the progress
that has been made over the past two years. It is ambitious, but
it is also realistic. It recognises financial constraints, the
need to protect existing provision, and the importance of growing
the system at a pace the sector can sustain.
“The public consultation is a vital part
of the development process and am keen to hear from as wide a
range of people as possible. I want to
ensure the final Strategy reflects the real-life priorities of
children, parents and providers. I would encourage everyone with
an interest to share their views.”
The public consultation on the draft Executive Early Learning and
Childcare Strategy runs for 14 weeks, until 24 March 2025.
The Department also plans to hold a series of public consultation
events. Details will be published when available on the DE
website.
