Applications open for Stormont’s new childcare subsidy

MANY working parents in Northern Ireland can now apply for an extra 15% of childcare support, although some have expressed concerns that fee increases will limit the impact.

A UK government scheme already offers 20% of tax-free childcare for eligible working parents.

In May, campaigners welcomed a £25m package of measures to support families and the childcare sector from the Stormont Education Minister, Paul Givan.

From next month, eligible parents will receive a further 15% reduction for children in the year before they start primary school.

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Mr Givan estimated that, when combined with the 20% UK scheme reduction, it could save parents with two children in full-time childcare around £8,000 a year.

A spokesperson from the Melted Parents NI group said they would monitor how well the scheme offsets increases to childcare fees.

“We know parents are concerned about fee rises absorbing the 15% subsidy – we have in fact heard from a few parents that their providers are increasing fees but so far only from a couple.”

The voluntary campaign group has urged parents to report any fee increases to Early Years and the Department of Education to build a more complete picture.

“Fee rises happen, typically on an annual basis but we know parents have seen one, two or even three fee rises in the last 12 months,” the spokesperson added.

“We know providers face difficult decisions when it comes to bills rising, and hope the payments from NICSS (the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme) for administering the scheme will help.

“We know that the Department for Education are doing some data collection on fees to inform a future strategy and longer term intervention for both parents and providers.”

While acknowledging the scheme “won’t solve everything,” the group said they were still hopeful it would bring much-needed relief to many parents in the short term.

Information on applying for the scheme is available from www.early-years.org/nicss/parents.

While parents can apply on an ongoing basis, only those who have registered by August 20 will be included for the September cycle of the subsidy.

Other parts of the Stormont scheme include a longer-term plan to provide all children in the region with 22.5 hours of funded, weekly pre-school education.

At present, only 40% of children received 22.5 hours of pre-school education, with the rest receiving 12.5 hours of weekly provision.

It is hoped that 2,200 new full-time places will be in place by September 2025, with continued expansion from then on.

Direct support is also being offered to childcare providers, with the aim of stabilising and expanding the sector.