Background to the Research

• The Government's aim is to ensure high quality, affordable childcare for children up to 14 years in every local community in NI. This report encompasses government policy in relation to achieving this aim and includes a range of responses gleaned from the consultation process that followed the earlier document 'Children First' which was published in February 1999.
  

Research Approach

• The document explores a range of themes relating to childcare policy and practice; within these themes recommendations for action are outlined. The earlier strategy document asked for comments from key players and these responses formed the basis of the recommendations.
  

Main Findings

Quality

• ETI, SSI and registration and inspection units within HSS Trusts will work together to develop, as far as possible, common standards to inform inspection in early education and childcare settings.
• In response to concerns about differences between HSS Trusts in the standards expected, DHSS and SSI will promote training of registration and inspection staff to improve consistency in the application of the regulations and guidance associated with Part Xl of the Children Order.
• The Inter-Departmental Group on Early Years will invite relevant childcare organisations to work together with the group to develop common standards for accreditation in NI.
• The Inter-Departmental Group on Early Years has criteria and invited applications for the establishment of a small number of Good Practice Networks.
• Action to raise the quality of formal childcare will be complemented by support for parents and informal carers.
• The Department of Education is working to increase parents' involvement and has secured some £600k across the 3 years 1999-200 to 2001-2002 to establish pilot parenting groups in NI.
• The Inter-Departmental Group on Early Years will promote the use of the national 'climbing frame' of qualifications in NI.
• The T&EA will develop a childcare training strategy for NI, in consultation with other relevant Departments and other stakeholders, and will aim to ensure that the resources available are used effectively and efficiently.

Recruitment

• The T&EA is working towards providing 1,250 training opportunities in childcare through the New Deal by the year 2002.
• Under the strategy, more information will be available to parents on the standards required of those working in formal childcare.
• The introduction of the minimum wage will ensure that childcare workers' pay does not fall short of a decent minimum.

Research

• The Inter-Departmental Group will take forward the current research project on Effective Pre-school provision in NI and will consider further research as the need arises.

Access

• An additional £9.9m over the period to March 2002 will be made available to support the implementation of Sure Start. The Inter-Departmental Group will work with the Childcare Partnerships to set up the first Sure Start programmes by April 2000.
• Some 4,500 additional pre-school education places have already been made available; by 2002 the Government aim to have another 4,700 places available - this will cover 85% of children in their pre-school year.
• Under the auspices of the National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund £9.9m will be available from 1999-2003 to support the establishment of out-of-school childcare in NI.
• Plans for the development of childcare services will be required to meet the needs of all families, including those with special education or social needs.
• The Working Families Tax Credit will mean a fairer deal for around 1.5million United Kingdom families with children, including support for childcare costs.

Government's Role

• The Government is reviewing arrangements for maternity leave and pay.
• In co-operation with DEE, Opportunity Now and other relevant agencies, T&EA will develop a communications strategy for promoting 'family friendly' employment in NI.

Information

• The Department of Health and Social Services will establish a Childcare Information Project Board with representation from all relevant agencies to identify childcare information needs and bring forward proposals about how these needs can best be met.

Partnership

• Four new Childcare Partnerships will be established to take forward this strategy.

Childcare Plans

• The new Childcare Partnerships will each be required to draw up a Childcare Plan setting out how childcare needs in its area will be met.
• Partnerships will have to consider how they can best meet the needs of all children from all communities, including those with special social and educational needs and those with a disability.
• The Inter-Departmental Group intends to issue guidance on the remit and membership of local Childcare Partnerships in September 1999.

Planning & co-ordination at NI Level

• The Inter-Departmental Group on Early Years will continue to carry out this function and will review the membership and remit of the Regional Consultative Forum on Early Years in the light of responses to the consultation on Children First.

Funding

• Substantial additional Government funding of £10.4m (1998/9) has already been made available to Educations and Library Boards to expand pre-school education, and to HSS Boards to meet their obligations under the Children Order. An additional £61m will be made available to a range of agencies over the next 3 years.