APG on Early Education and Childcare - 25/11/2025
The All Party Group on Early Education and Childcare met on Tuesday 25th November chaired by Cathy Mason MLA. The Department of Education updated on standardisation within early education, the universal offer through which the Department provides a year of funded preschool education for every target age child who wishes to take up a place. Every year approximately 96% percent of children take up the offer. The standardisation programme focuses on a transition to a universal offer of 22.5 hours a week for every target age child. The Department of Education also advised that the Education Minister circulated a draft early learning and childcare strategy to his Executive colleagues on the 14th of November and is seeking their agreement to commence a public consultation. Once the consultation questionnaire is issued the Minister and the Department of Education will be keen to hear from as many stakeholders as possible. DE will also be taking forward a series of consultation events to reach as wide an audience as possible.
Early Years provided a detailed presentation on the latest findings from the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme. In 2024/2025 the scheme dispersed over £8 million. Between April and the 30th of October this year it has dispersed approximately £9.8 million in subsidy payments to parents via childcare providers, a total of just under £20 million since the scheme launched in September 2024.
The next APG meeting is scheduled for January 2026.
For further information contact APG@early-years.org