Motion

Delivery of a Childcare Strategy

Motion TitleDelivery of a Childcare Strategy

Motion TextThat this Assembly recognises that the commitment to delivering more affordable, accessible, high-quality early learning and childcare is an immediate priority within the Executive’s Programme for Government and that the Executive has provided £80 million towards childcare support measures during the last two financial years; further recognises that many families continue to struggle with the cost of childcare alongside their other bills; acknowledges the challenges facing the childcare sector in terms of recruitment and retention; regrets the delays by the Minister of Education in bringing forward the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy; calls on the Minister of Education to commit to publishing the long-awaited Early Learning and Childcare Strategy by the end of 2025; and further calls on the Minister to commit to a Strategy that delivers high-quality, affordable childcare that meets the needs of all children, including those with special educational needs, physical disabilities, children in Irish-medium education, and those for whom English is not a first language.

Motion CategoryPrivate Members' Motion

Date Tabled to Business Office14/10/2025

Date Selected By Committee14/10/2025

Date of Plenary Debate03/11/2025

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Tabled By

Member Name	Tabled As
Mrs Cathy Mason	MLA - South Down
Ms Emma Sheerin	MLA - Mid Ulster
Miss Áine Murphy	MLA - Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Mr Pat Sheehan	MLA - West Belfast

Bills

Outcome/Voting

The Motion, As Amended, Was Carried by Oral Vote

Amendments

Selected Amendments

Number	Tabled Date	Amendment Text
1	22/10/2025	Leave out all after 'recruitment and retention;' and insert: ‘considers that cross-departmental collaboration is essential to the success of any strategy, including delivery from the review of Minimum Standards for Childminding and Day Care for Children Under Age 12 being taken forward by the Minister of Health and proposed support for the childcare sector being taken forward by the Minister for the Economy; further acknowledges the requirement for an early learning and childcare strategy that meets the needs of all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, children in Irish-medium education, and those for whom English is not a first language, ensures that parents and carers can pursue education, training or work and delivers a workforce plan that promotes early learning and childcare as an attractive and rewarding career pathway and ensures those in the sector are valued, have access to training and development and are paid fairly; and calls on the Minister of Education to publish a such a strategy with a fully costed action plan that ensures high-quality, affordable childcare, as required by all children.’

Other Amendments Tabled

Tabled Date	Amendment Text
23/10/2025	Leave out all after ‘last two financial years;’ and insert: ‘notes media reports that Northern Ireland continues to provide less government support for childcare costs than elsewhere on these islands; further recognises that many families continue to struggle with the cost of childcare alongside their other bills; acknowledges the challenges facing the childcare sector in terms of recruitment and retention; regrets the delays by the Minister of Education in bringing forward the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy; calls on the Minister of Education to commit to publishing the long-awaited Early Learning and Childcare Strategy by the end of 2025; and further calls on the Minister of Finance to fully fund a strategy that delivers high-quality, affordable childcare that meets the needs of all children, including those with special educational needs, physical disabilities, children in Irish-medium education, and those for whom English is not a first language.’

Tabled Date

Amendment Text

23/10/2025

Leave out all after ‘last two financial years;’ and insert: ‘notes media reports that Northern Ireland continues to provide less government support for childcare costs than elsewhere on these islands; further recognises that many families continue to struggle with the cost of childcare alongside their other bills; acknowledges the challenges facing the childcare sector in terms of recruitment and retention; regrets the delays by the Minister of Education in bringing forward the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy; calls on the Minister of Education to commit to publishing the long-awaited Early Learning and Childcare Strategy by the end of 2025; and further calls on the Minister of Finance to fully fund a strategy that delivers high-quality, affordable childcare that meets the needs of all children, including those with special educational needs, physical disabilities, children in Irish-medium education, and those for whom English is not a first language.’

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