All Party Group on Early Education and Childcare April meeting

What are All Party Groups?

All Party Groups provide a forum by which Northern Ireland MLAs and outside organisations and individuals can meet to discuss shared interests in a particular cause or subject.

The purpose of the All Party Group on Early Education and Childcare is to promote best practice policy and provision in the delivery of early education and childcare in Northern Ireland.

Further details of All Party Group on Early Education and Childcare, including its membership and meeting dates, is available on the NI Assembly website.

After the Annual Meeting on the 16 April 2026 the All Party Group on Early Education and Childcare had its regular meeting.

The Department of Education provided an update on the Draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy consultation survey responses. The consultation responses are currently being analysed and the results of this process will be published in due course. The implementation of the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy is subject to the budget being available and agreement by the NI Executive.

The Department of Education also provided an update on the current position of early years education programmes and targeted intervention programmes including the Pre-School Standardisation Programme, Pre-school Education Programme, Sure Start, Pathway Fund, Toybox and Bright Start.

There was also an update given by the Department of Health, providing information to the All Party Group on the consultation report on proposed changes to the minimum standards, including changes to childcare provider ratios and changes to GP health declarations required for staff working in childcare facilities. An overview of the consultation report will be provided to the All Party Group once the report has been finalised and published.