{"id":17655,"date":"2021-12-08T10:08:24","date_gmt":"2021-12-08T10:08:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/factcheckni.org\/?p=17655"},"modified":"2022-02-26T14:12:57","modified_gmt":"2022-02-26T14:12:57","slug":"childcare-provision-in-northern-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/factcheckni.org\/topics\/economy\/childcare-provision-in-northern-ireland\/","title":{"rendered":"Childcare provision in Northern Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
A recent survey<\/a> published by Employers For Childcare<\/a> examined the status of childcare provision in Northern Ireland. This explainer article updates our previous analysis<\/a> and includes comparisons of other UK regions and Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is considered \u201cchildcare\u201d?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n A baseline definition of \u201cchildcare\u201d is given in the UK Childcare Act 2006 (Section 18<\/a>): \u201cany form of care for a child, including education or any other supervised activity\u201d. Different statutory agencies<\/a> are responsible for the regulation of formal childcare across the UK and Ireland. In Northern Ireland, childcare is registered and regulated up to age 12<\/a>, which includes wraparound childcare (i.e. pre- and post-school day) for school age children (and delivered by School Age Childcare providers and childminders<\/a>). This article focuses on childcare provision for those up to age 5 (i.e. before enrolment in primary school).<\/p>\n\n\n\n A statutory definition of \u201cchildcare\u201d excludes<\/a> that provided by a parent, step-parent, or other relative. Childcare can be provided by friends or family, but any unregistered childminding done for financial gain is illegal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Formal childminding includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Government funding for childcare provision can take the form of direct funding of formal providers (e.g. childminders and day nurseries) and funding to users, running from open eligibility (all parents and guardians of children of applicable age), to only \u201cworking parents\u201d, to those eligible for other benefits or criteria (e.g. low income).<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article focuses on childcare provision that is wholly state-funded for the user (families).<\/p>\n\n\n\n What childcare is funded by the Northern Ireland government?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n There is currently no Northern Ireland government-funded programme for childcare for those aged under 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Department of Education<\/a> sponsors a Pre-School Education Programme<\/a> (PSEP), which funds \u201cone year of non-compulsory pre-school education\u201d, i.e. a year before a child starts primary school. The Department defines this as \u201cnot free or funded childcare\u201d<\/a>, but as \u201cfunded pre-school education\u201d. The Department of Education is distinguishing between services provided by registered childcare providers (such as childminders and day care settings) that enable parents to access work, education, or training, and the provision of an education programme following common curriculum guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under this programme, most pre-schools in Northern Ireland offer “part-time” places of 2.5 hours a day (12.5 hours per week<\/a>; 475 hours per year); some offer \u201cfull-time\u201d places of 4.5 hours a day (22.5 hours per week; 855 hours per year). In both cases, the provision is delivered at set hours over 38 weeks from September to June. Every child is entitled to this provision in the year immediately before they start primary school, but parents have to apply and meet an individual provider’s criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The charity, Employers For Childcare, offers a family benefits advice service<\/a>, providing parents with additional information about childcare provision in Northern Ireland and financial support available for the cost of registered childcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What happens elsewhere?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n England<\/i>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Certain 2 year olds<\/a> in England can access 570 hours a year of \u201cearly education and childcare\u201d if parents are on a low income, receive certain types of benefits, have special education needs (SEN), or receive Disability Living allowance. This is usually taken as 15 hours a week over 38 weeks, but can be used flexibly (for example taking fewer hours over more weeks).<\/p>\n\n\n\n All 3 to 4 year olds<\/a> in England are entitled to 570 free hours of \u201cchildcare\u201d per year. This can be taken over 38 weeks or flexibly. Certain 3 to 4 year olds<\/a> in England from working families (earning above the minimum wage for 16+ hours a week and less than \u00a3100,000 a year) are entitled to 1,140 hours per year, or \u201c30 hours free childcare\u201d. This can be taken over 38 weeks or flexibly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scotland: <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n Funded \u201cearly learning and childcare\u201d is available to certain 2 year olds<\/a> and all 3 and 4 year olds<\/a>. The provision is for 1,140 hours per year (30 hours per week if taken during term time).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wales: <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n Wales\u2019 Flying Start programme offers \u201cpart-time childcare\u201d for certain 2 to 3 year olds<\/a> (in \u201cdisadvantaged areas\u201d) \u2014 2.5 hours a day<\/a>, 5 days a week for 39 weeks, with at least 15 sessions during the school holidays; this is 487.5 hours a year, plus extra for holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Certain 3 and 4 year olds<\/a> in Wales can have up to 30 hours per week of \u201cchildcare or early education\u201d. Early education is mainly provided by schools through a Foundation Phase nursery<\/a> programme. The 30 hours is made up of a minimum of 10 hours of early education per week and a maximum of 20 hours of childcare per week. The provision is for up to 1,440 hours per year, which can be taken over 48 weeks<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ireland:<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n In Ireland, the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme<\/a> (ECCE) is a two-year pre-school programme available to all children aged between 2 years and 8 months and 5 years and 6 months<\/a>. This is offered through a wide range of childcare settings (pre-schools, Montessoris, creches, playgroups) depending on what is available in the local area. It is for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 38 weeks; this is 570 hours per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s compare the childcare and early education provision that is wholly state-funded for the user in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n