Childcare Subsidy Program Extended to Include Primary School Students
A plan to help with the cost of childcare will grow to include kids in primary school starting September 2025. On Thursday, Education Minister Paul Givan shared a £55m plan for early learning and childcare that will grow the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme.
The scheme started in September and now helps families with kids not yet in primary school. From 1 September 2025, it will also help families with kids in primary school. It's thought the number of kids who could use this help will go up by 60% from the current 15,000 to about 24,000, the education minister stated.
"This means that working parents of school-age kids will now get a 15% reduction, up to the capped amount, on their childcare bills," Givan said. "Together with tax-free childcare, this can cut childcare bills by up to 32%."
Families with kids in full-time childcare could get up to £184 a month per child in aid, according to Givan.
The money help is given through approved childcare providers, with savings given to parents. Talking on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback program on Thursday, Givan said that the growth of the scheme will "help parents decide how much they work compared to the cost of childcare.
"Some pick not to work, or they cut down their hours because childcare costs more, and this will aid those decisions." Sandra McLean, a solo mom, had used three childminders for her kids in different stages. "I just couldn't have worked if I hadn't had the childcare," Ms. McLean told BBC News NI.
"I dropped off at eight in the morning and picked up at six every night. It was totally vital; I couldn't have kept a roof over our heads as a solo mom without that help," she said.
Ms. McLean called current childcare costs "outrageous," saying it is "really key" that costs will be helped with.
She told BBC News NI she leaned heavily on her parents to help "to try and save a bit of money." She said childcare costs were "crazy." "It wouldn't have been worth it for me to work if I hadn't had grandparents to help out and do that." She said Thursday's news is "absolutely fantastic."
Diane Koplewsky, CEO of Sleepy Hollow Group, which focuses on childcare, is "delighted" with the scheme's growth. "There will be admin for providers, but for us the main thing is for parents, working parents, being able to stay in work," Ms. Koplewsky said.
"We're delighted we can do this. The administrative burden is way less of an impact to us than the parents who are getting the savings."
Rebecca Harper, from Melted Parents NI, welcomed the scheme's growth but pointed out some faults with it. "While this is a celebratory day for families who are really squeezed by childcare costs—you're talking thousands a month for some families—any help is welcome," she told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra program.
"But it's important to remember that a childcare strategy must reflect what families truly experience, what it really costs."
Ms. Harper said £184 a month is "fantastic," but added, "When your bill is £2-3,000 a month, it doesn't really make a big difference at the same time."
"It's a step, and it's a step in the right direction, but we need to see big, transformative investment in childcare that compares with the rest of Europe." Givan mentioned work is still being done on a planned childcare strategy, and he plans to present it to the executive in autumn. "The first and most important action I had to take was real-time, tangible in terms of financial help in setting up these schemes," he said.
