Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme for providers

Watch this video for an overview of provider eligibility and participation in the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme.

Provider eligibility

The subsidy can be offered by registered childcare providers and schools that are signed up to the HMRC Tax-Free Childcare scheme.

Day Nursery
Playgroup
Childminder
Approved Home Childcare
Out of School
Primary School
Special School

Please note: NICSS does not apply to unregistered or informal childcare arrangements.

Benefits

Participating in NICSS can help your setting make registered childcare more affordable for eligible working families.

Reduce childcare fees

Your setting can give eligible families a 15% reduction on their childcare fees, up to £203 per child, per month.

Higher disability rate

The monthly reduction may be up to £406 for a child who qualifies for the higher Tax-Free Childcare disability rate.

Support working families

More affordable registered childcare can support parents and carers to remain in work, return to work or increase their working hours.

Manage the scheme online

Apply the discount to the family’s bill and claim the corresponding subsidy through the secure NICSS portal. You can also manage child applications, claims and remittance information.

Provider registration

Follow this checklist to register your setting for the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme.

Check that your setting is eligible

You must be an eligible registered childcare provider or school-based provider and be signed up to Tax-Free Childcare.

Register your interest

Complete the NICSS Provider Registration Form with details about your setting.

Activate your online account

You will receive an email inviting you to set up an account on the Early Years Online Grants Portal. Follow the link to activate your account and create your login details.

Complete your NICSS registration

Sign in to the portal, complete the registration activity and submit the required information about your setting.

Wait for confirmation

The NICSS Team will review your information. Once your registration has been verified and marked as active, you can let eligible parents and carers know that they may register their children with your setting.

Please note: If you operate separately registered settings at different sites, each site will require its own portal account and unique email address.

Ready to register your setting?

Complete the registration form to register your interest in NICSS.

Register your interest in NICSS

Provider registration walkthrough

Watch this video for guidance on completing the NICSS provider registration process.

Approving and managing child applications

Once an eligible parent or carer registers their child with your setting, a child application will appear in your NICSS portal. You must review and approve the application before applying the NICSS discount.

Open the child application

Sign in to the NICSS portal and open the child application linked to your setting.

Review and approve the application

Check the information provided and approve the child application through the secure NICSS portal.

Apply the NICSS reduction

Once the child application is active, apply the 15% NICSS reduction to the child’s eligible childcare fees, subject to the relevant monthly cap.

If eligibility changes: If a parent or carer tells you that their child is no longer eligible for Tax-Free Childcare, stop applying the discount and contact the NICSS Team. Include the child application number and TFC number so the application can be closed.

If a child leaves your setting: Contact the NICSS Team or your allocated Grants Officer so any unnecessary future claims can be removed.

Child application walkthrough

Watch this video for guidance on approving and managing a child application through the NICSS portal.

Submitting monthly claims

Every month, a claim will be generated in the NICSS portal for each active child application linked to your setting. The NICSS Team will email you when the monthly claim window opens.

Review each claim

Sign in to the portal, open each generated claim and check that the information displayed is accurate.

Complete the required information

Complete all mandatory fields and make any required amendments before submitting the claim.

Submit the claim

Submit each completed claim record to receive the corresponding NICSS subsidy payment.

Review payment information

Review and export your claims, payment and remittance information from the secure NICSS portal when required.

Please note: If a claim is displayed as “Not eligible”, it has not yet been submitted. This is usually because one or more mandatory fields are incomplete. Open the claim, make the required amendments and select Submit.

Monthly claims walkthrough

Watch this video for guidance on completing and submitting monthly NICSS claims.

View provider FAQs

Invoices and provider documentation

Your invoices should clearly show how the NICSS discount has been applied. For each eligible child, include the following information.

The child’s name
Their Tax-Free Childcare number
The amount charged before the NICSS reduction
The value of the 15% NICSS reduction
The new amount payable by the parent or carer

Existing family discounts

Where a family already receives a sibling or family discount, apply the 15% NICSS reduction after that discount has been deducted.

Please note: Refundable deposits are not eligible for the NICSS subsidy.

Invoice templates

Use the latest invoice templates for claims from 1 April 2026. Select the appropriate monthly, weekly or printable template below.

Monthly invoice template

Download the monthly Excel invoice template for claims from 1 April 2026.

Download monthly invoice

Weekly invoice template

Download the weekly Excel invoice template for claims from 1 April 2026.

Download weekly invoice

Monthly invoice, TFC disability

Download the monthly TFC disability Excel invoice template for claims from 1 April 2026.

Download monthly disability invoice

Weekly invoice, TFC disability

Download the weekly TFC disability Excel invoice template for claims from 1 April 2026.

Download weekly disability invoice

Printable invoice, PDF

Download a printable PDF version of the NICSS invoice.

Download printable invoice

Provider FAQs

Find answers to common questions about eligibility, applications, invoices, claims, payments and using the NICSS online portal.

The Provider FAQs are updated on an ongoing basis, so please check back regularly for the latest information.