We believe in Childhood - in its own right

Have a read through our annual report to see what we have been up to this past year.

Join the Conversation

Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme

Supporting Families using Tax Free Childcare

1st April 2025 – 31st March 2026

PEACEPLUS ASPIRE

PEACEPLUS ASPIRE is an exciting cross-border project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)

The aim of the project is to foster peace, reconciliation and collaboration through shared education.

Our Work

Early Years is the largest organisation in Northern Ireland working with and for young children. We are a non-profit making organisation and have been working since 1965 to promote high quality childcare for children aged 0 - 18 and their families.

ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH

Our goal is to advocate, mobilise and influence early years’ policy developments that are rights-based, evidence-informed and appropriately resourced, to support the rights of young children and deliver outcomes for young children. Over the past 50 years with our members we continue to speak up for children, their family and the early childhood care and education sector.

EVIDENCE-INFORMED PRACTICE

Early Years focus is evidence-based practice throughout the early childhood care and education sector. We draw from research and academic studies to develop innovative quality programmes which support services within the sector.

PRACTICE SUPPORT

Our members ensure that children are immersed in active learning environments, while we support them with their learning and the provision provided through Early Years specialist mentoring and support, committee management, salary and disclosures services, financial support and advice and guidelines on new legislation within the sector.

GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT

Early Years is passionate in supporting the movement for peace that draws on the power of early childhood development. We engage in a number of international networks and projects to support practice and research innovations.

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

Early Years delivers a wide range of training, programmes and professional learning events that continue our drive to improve practice by applying an appropriate play-based curriculum. We facilitate the roll out of the Reggio approach in Northern Ireland by inspiring reflective communication within a diverse Learning Community, to bring about change for children and communities.

SUSTAINABILITY

We focus on meeting the needs of the early childhood care and education providers, promoting available funding opportunities and offering support for members when applying for these. Early Years is currently administrator of the Pathway Fund, Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme and ASPIRE.