AQW 21950/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 05/02/2025
Answered On Date: 05/06/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any work he is undertaking to address the issue of unregistered childcare.

Answer:

Unregistered childcare provision potentially put children at risk and also threatens the financial sustainability of registered provision in the area. I would encourage anyone who believes that a person may be providing unregistered childcare to contact their local Health and Social Care Trust, who will investigate further.

In accordance with Part XI, Article 132 of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order, anyone found to be providing unregistered childminding by the Trust is served with a one year enforcement notice. Should they be found to be providing unregistered childminding again during that period, they will be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine on conviction of up to level 5 on the standard scale.

My department continues to promote the benefits of using registered childcare and raise awareness of the risks associated with unregistered childcare, through the www.familysupportni.gov.uk website.

A further element to addressing this is the delivery of affordable and accessible childcare which is a commitment of the Northern Ireland Executive and effective legislative and standards frameworks will be a key to delivering on that. As such, I have made a commitment to undertake a full review of the Minimum Standards.

The first stage of the review of the Minimum Standards, a public consultation on adult-child ratios and the requirement for all prospective childcare workers to provide a health declaration countersigned by their GP, was launched on Monday 24 March 2025.

Following the close of the consultation on 20 June 2025, all responses will be collated for review by the Department, and a consultation report will be produced.

If it is considered that any urgent changes should be made to the Minimum Standards in advance of the completion of the wider review, these changes will be communicated through a Departmental Press Release, a Circular to HSC Trusts and a letter to all childcare providers.

The full review of the Minimum Standards is expected to be completed in 2026.

In addition, the developing Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy will also assist in tackling the issue of unregistered childminders, by promoting the value of registered childminding, as well as making childcare more affordable and accessible for parents who need it. The Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS) aims to reduce the childcare costs of eligible working parents by 15 per cent for all qualifying children. It is delivered through registered childcare providers, including daycares, playgroups, childminders, and Approved Home Childcarers.