The Pathway Fund 2023/24 and 2024/25 is now closed for applications
The Pathway Fund is open to all facilitators or registered providers of early years education and learning provision focused on children 0-4 such as:
Registered Sessional Daycare Settings (including Out of Schools, Summer Schemes, Playgroups, Crèches)
Registered Full Daycare Settings (Day Nurseries)
Registered Childminders.
The Pathway Fund is a competitive fund based on eligibility and assessment criteria. All applicants must meet the eligibility criteria, including that they are not in receipt of any alternative funding or income to provide the service outlined in the application. Only applicants deemed eligible will be assessed. Applicants will need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
The setting is a facilitator or registered provider of early years education and learning, focused on children 0-4 years;
Is registered with the Health and Social Care Trust (if a provider of Early Years services);
No duplication or displacement of existing early years education and learning facilities in the area;
The project is compliant with the requirements of The Minimum Standards for Childminding and Day Care (if a provider of Early Years services);
Safeguarding policies and procedures are in place, regularly reviewed and being complied with. Safeguarding policies of applicant settings must also align with Department of Education (DE) guidance;
Appropriate management and financial governance policies and procedures in place;
Financial need for contribution from the Pathway Fund – including assessment of available reserves;
Additionality– the applicant is not receiving funding from another source for the provision in the application and that, without grant funding, the project could not begin, or could only begin at a later date, or could only begin on a smaller scale;
Cost per child place should not exceed £1,500 (£2,000 for children with complex needs).
If projects meet all of the eligibility criteria they are then scored against the assessment criteria. Stream A will be assessed against the six criteria below and Stream B the first four:
i. Providing quality education and learning services in areas of social disadvantage to address both educational and social disadvantage.
ii. Ensuring children with additional needs receive appropriate early years support;
iii. Provision of quality services/support to children at risk of harm;
iv. Provision of quality early years services in rural and other areas where there is little or no provision;
v. Improving the integration and building of community relations from an early age;
vi. Enhancement of existing services through improving quality, staff development, partnerships, parental engagement, management and governance.
Contact Us
For further information please contact The Pathway Fund
A: The Pathway Project, 6c Wildflower Way, Apollo Road, Boucher Road, Belfast, BT12 6TA
T: +44 (0)28 9066 2825 (Option 2)
E: thepathwayfund@early-years.org
Meet our Team
Policies and Reports
Privacy notice
The Pathway Fund operates under the Early Years privacy notice available on the Early Years website here.
Complaints policy
If you wish to make a complaint about The Pathway Fund you should follow our complaints policy here. Please note that the complaints policy is not to be used for any appeals in connection with funding applications.
Appeals Policy
If you wish to appeal a funding decision you should follow our appeals policy here.
Compliments policy
If you wish to compliment The Pathway Fund please follow our policy here.