Register your interest to participate in the scheme

If you are eligible* and would like to register to participate in the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme, please complete the form below:

Open Form

*Tax Free Childcare providers who are registered with FSNI or Schools

Activate your account and create an online profile

You will receive an email to set up an account on the Early Years Online Grants Portal. This will enable you to log into the system and complete registration for the Scheme.

Registration Process

You will need to complete the registration activity on the Early Years Online Grants Portal.

Watch this video to see how to complete the registration process.

Once you have submitted your registration the NICSS Team will review your information.

Once verified your registration will become Active. After this you can let eligible parents attending your setting know they can complete registration for the scheme. More information for parents can be found here.

Approving Child Applications

Once your eligible parents have completed registration for their child, you are required to review and approve the Child Application. Once you have approved the Child Application, you can start to apply the 15% discount to their monthly childcare fees.

Watch this video to see how to complete the approval process.

Submitting Monthly Claims

Every month a claim will be generated for each of the Active Child Applications linked to your Portal. You will receive communication from the NICSS team letting you know when the claims will open. You should complete and submit each claim record to receive the discount payment.

Watch this video to learn how to use the portal to submit claims.

Reviewing Payments and Remittance

All claims and payment data is retained within your secure section of the portal. You can access and export this data each month.

Watch this video to learn how to review remittance payments.

Closing a Child Application

If a parent informs you that they are no longer eligible for Tax Free Childcare you should close the Child Application and you should no longer apply the 15% discount to their childcare fees.

Watch this video to learn how to close a child application.