All Party Group on Early Education and Childcare
Thursday 28 May 2026
The All Party Group Chair Cathy Mason MLA welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked Marc Bailie from the Department of Health for attending to update the Group on the findings from the Consultation on proposals to amend the Minimum Standards for Childminding and Day Care for Children Under Age 12.
The Chair commenced the meeting with an update on the oral briefing to the Education Committee on the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy that had taken place earlier in the month. The update noted the strong response to the public consultation - a full analysis is being undertaken but early feedback has been broadly positive, particularly on standardisation, workforce measures, and increased financial support, although concerns were raised about implementation timelines and rising provider fees. The Department plans to publish the consultation analysis when completed and the Education Minister is committed to bringing forward the final Strategy to the Executive as soon as practicable.
At the end of April representatives from the NI Chamber of Commerce, the FSB and Sleepy Hollow Group gave a briefing to the Economy and Education Committees. They raised concerns around affordable childcare and the economy, welcoming the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy but highlighting key challenges, including the need for increased funding to support workforce professionalisation and the need for cross-departmental delivery.
Issues were also raised around staffing costs and the sustainability of current funding models.
The Chair provided a further written update from the Department of Education on the draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy. Budgets for 2026/27 have not yet been agreed by the Executive. However, the Education Minister has provided an initial 3 months of funding up to the end of June for existing early years programmes within his remit pending final departmental budget allocations and an agreed budget for the ELC Strategy in 2026-27.
The draft Executive Budget currently proposes an indicative budget of £55m (2026/27), £65m (2027/28) and £75m (2028/29) for ELC Strategy, totalling £195m. This falls short of the projected costs required over the next three financial years to deliver on the actions as set out in the draft ELC strategy document.
The Department is therefore not presently in a position to provide any commitments or timescales to further funding. The Education Minister will continue to press Executive colleagues to secure the necessary funding to continue support for early learning and childcare provision in 2026-27.
Speaker: Marc Bailie, Department of Health – Minimum Standards Consultation
Marc Bailie from the Department of Health proceeded to provide an update on the Consultation on proposals to amend the Minimum Standards for Childminding.
The Minimum Standards consultation sought views on two key issues;
Key Issue 1 – Health Declarations
The consultation sought views on changing the requirement for GP‑countersigned health assessments in childcare vetting. Specifically, whether this requirement should continue for all staff, be limited to senior/responsible roles (the Department’s preferred option), or be removed entirely. The proposal aims to reduce recruitment delays and costs while still ensuring safeguarding through appropriate fitness-to-work checks.
Key Issue 2 – Adult:Child Ratios
The consultation sought views on possible changes to adult:child ratios in both childminding and day care settings. Options included increasing the number of children a childminder could care for (including for very young children) and making permanent or further adjusting staffing ratios in day care settings (e.g. retaining or increasing ratios introduced during COVID-19).
Summary of Responses
Overall, the consultation received 495 responses, mostly from individuals, with strong representation from parents and childcare providers.
On health declarations, there was clear majority support (around 70%) for limiting GP countersignatures to senior roles. On ratios, views were more mixed: proposals for childminding changes were largely opposed (around 63% disagreed), reflecting safety and quality concerns, whereas proposed day care ratios received majority support (around 65%), indicating acceptance of existing arrangements.
Marc’s presentation was followed by questions and discussion.
Alison McNulty from NICMA, raised concerns about the impact these changes would have on childminders, and particularly the rapid changes they would be expected to make within the next six months as these changes are implemented.
Marc stressed the importance of effective communication with childminders to reassure and address their concerns. He said the Department would be getting that communication out as soon as possible.
The next All Party Group meeting is scheduled to take place before the Assembly summer recess.