AGM and APG Meeting 16 April 2026
AGM Results
Cathy Mason MLA (SF) Chair
Cheryl Brownlee MLA (DUP) Vice-Chair
Michelle Guy MLA (Alliance) Treasurer
Sinéad McLaughlin MLA (SDLP) Secretary
A meeting of the All Party Group followed the AGM.
The Department of Education provided an update on the Draft Executive ELC consultation process. Officials are currently completing a thorough analysis of the responses received via the consultation survey and additional written responses, along with the findings of the public consultation events. Findings from the consultation will be published in due course. The publication and implementation of a final ELC Strategy is subject to Executive agreement and the necessary budget being made available.
The Department also provided an update on the current position of early years education and targeted intervention programmes including the Pre-School Standardisation Programme, Pre-school Education Programme, Sure Start, Pathway Fund, Toybox and Bright Start.
The Department of Health advised on the minimum standards consultation report. They have been discussing the proposals for both ratios and GP countersigned health declarations with the Minister’s office on a regular basis in recent weeks and anticipate clearance, and publication of the final consultation response, shortly. They will provide an overview to the APG once the response has been published.
The next meeting of the All Party Group is scheduled for late May.