Childcare

WIB Group chief executive Roseann Kelly urged Executive to move faster to create real long-lasting change

Research by PlayBoard NI has found significant challenges facing school-age childcare providers

But early years providers have warned that they could be forced to close as a result of national insurance and minimum wage rises in the Budget.

The PM is to give a major speech on Thursday, following a backlash to the Budget, plummeting poll ratings and the first resignation from his Cabinet.

State primary schools in England can apply to join the trial before the Government’s national rollout of funded breakfast clubs.

The comments were made by the DUP Communities Minister to the Alliance Party’s Kate Nicholl during a debate on childcare funding.

Two in five senior staff in childcare settings have said changes in the Budget could lead to permanent closures unless the Government takes action.

It is now ‘common practice’ for early years settings to ask families to pay additional charges on top of Government-funded hours, a study has said.

Primary schools can now apply for a share of £15m capital funding to deliver up to 300 new or expanded nurseries in England.

It forms the first stage of the Government’s plan to open an additional 3,000 school-based nurseries.