As work continues to develop the implementation plan for the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy, the future of Bright Start-funded school-age childcare services remains uncertain.

We are now six months into the financial year, yet projects have, to date, received assurance of continued funding only on a short-term basis through three-monthly increments – initially from April to June, followed by July to September and most recently October to December. While we recognise the complexities involved in reaching wider budget agreements, this ongoing uncertainty is creating understandable unease for childcare providers, employees, children and families.

Projects depend on Bright Start funding to deliver high-quality school-age childcare services. This funding not only supports parents and carers to access employment, education and training, but provides children with important opportunities to play, socialise and participate in their communities.

For many providers, the financial pressures of delivering school-age childcare are already significant. High operating costs, alongside the growth of unregistered provision within schools, can make it increasingly difficult for registered services to remain sustainable. Without continued, long term and secure funding, there is a real concern that some projects may be unable to continue delivering services, reducing choice and access for families.

The impact on the workforce

The uncertainty also has a direct impact on the dedicated workforce delivering these services. Providers need to be able to plan staffing, recruitment and employment with a reasonable degree of certainty. Where funding is only confirmed from month to month, employees can be left facing uncertainty about their hours, job security and longer-term employment.

This can make it more difficult for settings to recruit and retain experienced staff at a time when the school-age childcare sector is already experiencing significant workforce pressures. If funding is reduced or withdrawn, some providers may ultimately face difficult decisions around reduced hours, redundancies or closure.

Should Bright Start-funded projects be required to close, the timescales involved could create further financial pressures. Providers may need to meet redundancy costs, contractual obligations and other liabilities, while employees and families would need time to make alternative arrangements. The shorter the notice period, the greater the potential financial and practical impact on everyone involved.

FairPlay and Bright Start Holiday Grant Scheme

The uncertainty around wider budget agreements has also affected funding arrangements for school-age childcare during both term time and school holiday periods.

FairPlay provides term-time funding, supporting children and families to access school-age childcare throughout the school year. The Bright Start Holiday Grant Scheme, meanwhile, supports provision during school holiday periods. Delays in confirming budgets and funding arrangements can result in tight turnaround times for projects to complete applications and plan their provision.

For providers, this creates additional administrative and operational pressure. For parents and carers, it can mean uncertainty about whether a trusted childcare place will be available and whether they will be able to make arrangements in time for work, education or other commitments.

This can be particularly challenging for families of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). Finding a childcare setting that is safe, trusted and able to meet a child’s individual needs can already be difficult. Reliable holiday provision can provide much-needed respite for families, while enabling parents and carers to work, study or access other opportunities.

For children with SEN, access to quality play and childcare is equally important. These services provide opportunities to build friendships, develop independence and experience play and social environments beyond the home. Delays and uncertainty around funding can therefore have a much wider impact than simply the availability of childcare.

Supporting the sector through uncertainty

The impact of the wider budget uncertainty is also being felt by PlayBoard. Our core funding from the Department of Education has been affected by the absence of an agreed budget. This funding enables our teams to provide the support, advice, training and development opportunities that school-age childcare providers across Northern Ireland rely on.

We recognise that agreeing public budgets is complex and that decisions must be made within challenging financial circumstances. However, for providers planning staffing, premises, services and support for children and families, ongoing month-to-month assurances make meaningful forward planning extremely difficult.

School-age childcare needs stability, sustainability and a clear place within the future of early learning and childcare in Northern Ireland.

As the Early Learning and Childcare Strategy moves forward, it is important that the contribution of school-age childcare is recognised and that providers, employees and families have the clarity and confidence they need to plan for the future.

For children, families and the workforce who rely on these services, certainty cannot come too soon.