AQW 28488/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any plans he has to develop a workforce strategy for the community and voluntary childcare sector.
Asked by Nick Mathison MLA on 10 June 2025
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 10 June 2025
- Answer due by
- 25 June 2025
- Answered
- 16 June 20256 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Education
- Priority question
- No
Answer
A workforce plan for the early learning and childcare (ELC) sector, including community and voluntary providers, has been identified by stakeholders as a priority and will be included within the draft ELC Strategy I plan to bring forward for Executive agreement and public consultation in autumn 2025.
As part of the ELC measures delivered in 2024-25, I provided funding to the Department of Communities to provide childminding academies through Labour Market Partnerships, which resulted in an additional 146 childminders joining the sector. This funding will continue in 2025-26.
Further actions to support the recruitment and retention of staff are being considered by the cross-departmental Task and Finish group as part of the development of the overall Strategy.