‘Ambitious’ childcare reforms could halve costs for families, says Givan

An “ambitious” new childcare strategy could see costs faced by families halved, Education Minister Paul Givan said.

Mr Givan launched a draft of the Executive Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Strategy on Wednesday.

The plan, agreed by the Executive to be sent out for public consultation, aims to provide universal full-time pre-school education and proposes a longer-term objective to expand developmental provision to all children aged two and three.

It also prioritises the development and introduction of an Early Years Curriculum (ELC) Framework, and aims to provide additional ELC support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Mr Givan said the strategy marked “an important milestone” for families and for the early learning and childcare sector.

“The draft strategy builds on the progress already made and sets out ambitious proposals to position Northern Ireland among the leading international models of early learning and childcare support,” he said.

“Since September 2024, almost 19,000 families have benefited from the Childcare Subsidy Scheme, generating £19 million in savings, rising to an estimated £40 million when combined with Tax-Free Childcare.

“My ambition is clear: I want to deliver even greater childcare savings for families, reaching a point where more than half of childcare costs for working families are subsidised.”

The plan also aims to “strengthen” the childcare workforce, both home-based childminders and centre-based provision.

Mr Givan added: “This draft strategy is the product of extensive work. It has been shaped by engagement with parents, providers and stakeholders; informed by research and evidence; and guided by the recommendations of independent reviews.

“It has also been developed on a cross-departmental basis, recognising that early learning and childcare touches education, health, communities and the economy.

“The draft strategy sets out how we build on the progress that has been made over the past two years. It is ambitious, but it is also realistic.

“It recognises financial constraints, the need to protect existing provision, and the importance of growing the system at a pace the sector can sustain.

“The public consultation is a vital part of the development process and I am keen to hear from as wide a range of people as possible.

“I want to ensure the final strategy reflects the real-life priorities of children, parents and providers. I would encourage everyone with an interest to share their views.”

Alliance MLA Michelle Guy said the strategy had been “a long time coming”, but expressed concern at the lack of clear targets in it.

Ms Guy, the party’s education spokesperson, said: “Whilst we will take the time in the days and weeks ahead to fully consider the draft strategy, it’s important to highlight that while commitments to improve affordability for parents are welcome, there is still concern regarding the lack of a clear mechanism to prevent public subsidies from being absorbed into fees.

“We are also concerned about the intention to consult on changes to legislation that would remove the current statutory admissions criteria prioritising children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds when applying for funded pre-school education places.

“Quality, affordable childcare is essential social and economic infrastructure, so we need to get this right. This strategy must actually deliver tangible change for families and childcare providers alike.

“We have seen numerous strategies and plans from this Education Minister that have not been fully costed, or had clear measures of success or detailed implementation plans. The Early Learning and Childcare Strategy must have all of these, or it’s doubtful it will have been worth waiting for.

“We look forward to the results of the consultation and are keen to play our part, constructively, in this process, to ensure this strategy delivers the change families need. We encourage everyone to get involved and make their voices heard.”

The public consultation on the draft strategy runs until March 24 2026.