PlayBoard NI

Consultation Workshop on Draft Early Learning & Childcare Strategy
2026-02-24 09:30 - 12:00 (Europe/London)
Omagh – Omagh Enterprise Center, Great Northern Road, Omagh BT78 5LU

School-age childcare matters!

Register now!

Are you a school-age childcare provider or the parent of a school-age child? Have your say on the future of school-age childcare in Northern Ireland.

The Department of Education is currently consulting on the Draft Early Learning & Childcare Strategy – the NI Executive’s long-term plan to deliver more affordable, accessible and high-quality childcare.

This consultation is a critical opportunity to influence decisions that will shape childcare policy, funding and support for the immediate and long-term future.

School-age childcare plays a vital role in supporting children, families, and communities across Northern Ireland. However, the sector has long been under-recognised and under-resourced. Without clear recognition in the final strategy, there is a real risk that the needs of school-age children, and the providers who support them, will continue to be overlooked.

This is your opportunity to make sure that school-age childcare is clearly recognised, valued and adequately resourced.

Your voice matters. Now is the time to use it.

PlayBoard is hosting a series of consultation workshops, dedicated specifically to school-age childcare provision. These sessions will:

Break down what the draft strategy really means for the SAC sector

Highlight gaps, risks and opportunities for school-age provision

Create space to collectively explore practical, realistic outcomes aligned with the proposed policy direction

Support participants to develop informed, confident responses to the consultation

Help key stakeholders better understand the priorities and lived realities of the SAC sector.

We will be inviting local representatives and MLAs to join the consultation sessions to hear directly from YOU the sector and users of school-age childcare services.

We strongly urge anyone who works in, uses, or has an interest in school-age childcare to attend, speak up, and help shape a future where the sector – and the children it supports – are recognised and prioritised as key components of the childcare infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

Registration opens at 9:30am with tea and coffee, with the consultation running until 12 noon.

Due to expected high demand and limited places, we would respectfully ask that you let us know if you are no longer able to attend.

If you require further information, please contact katherine.lindsay@playboard.co.uk

View other workshop dates

Consultation Workshop on Draft Early Learning & Childcare Strategy
2026-02-25 09:30 - 12:00
Belfast – Girdwood Community Hub, 10 Girdwood Avenue, Belfast BT14 6EG

School-age childcare matters!

Register now!

Are you a school-age childcare provider or the parent of a school-age child? Have your say on the future of school-age childcare in Northern Ireland.

The Department of Education is currently consulting on the Draft Early Learning & Childcare Strategy – the NI Executive’s long-term plan to deliver more affordable, accessible and high-quality childcare.

This consultation is a critical opportunity to influence decisions that will shape childcare policy, funding and support for the immediate and long-term future.

School-age childcare plays a vital role in supporting children, families, and communities across Northern Ireland. However, the sector has long been under-recognised and under-resourced. Without clear recognition in the final strategy, there is a real risk that the needs of school-age children, and the providers who support them, will continue to be overlooked.

This is your opportunity to make sure that school-age childcare is clearly recognised, valued and adequately resourced.

Your voice matters. Now is the time to use it.

PlayBoard is hosting a series of consultation workshops, dedicated specifically to school-age childcare provision. These sessions will:

Break down what the draft strategy really means for the SAC sector

Highlight gaps, risks and opportunities for school-age provision

Create space to collectively explore practical, realistic outcomes aligned with the proposed policy direction

Support participants to develop informed, confident responses to the consultation

Help key stakeholders better understand the priorities and lived realities of the SAC sector.

We will be inviting local representatives and MLAs to join the consultation sessions to hear directly from YOU the sector and users of school-age childcare services.

We strongly urge anyone who works in, uses, or has an interest in school-age childcare to attend, speak up, and help shape a future where the sector – and the children it supports – are recognised and prioritised as key components of the childcare infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

Registration opens at 9:30am with tea and coffee, with the consultation running until 12 noon.

Due to expected high demand and limited places, we would respectfully ask that you let us know if you are no longer able to attend.

If you require further information, please contact katherine.lindsay@playboard.co.uk

View other workshop dates

Consultation Workshop on Draft Early Learning & Childcare Strategy
2026-02-26 10:00 - 12:00
Online

School-age childcare matters!

Register now!

Are you a school-age childcare provider or the parent of a school-age child? Have your say on the future of school-age childcare in Northern Ireland.

The Department of Education is currently consulting on the Draft Early Learning & Childcare Strategy – the NI Executive’s long-term plan to deliver more affordable, accessible and high-quality childcare.

This consultation is a critical opportunity to influence decisions that will shape childcare policy, funding and support for the immediate and long-term future.

School-age childcare plays a vital role in supporting children, families, and communities across Northern Ireland. However, the sector has long been under-recognised and under-resourced. Without clear recognition in the final strategy, there is a real risk that the needs of school-age children, and the providers who support them, will continue to be overlooked.

A representative from the Department of Education will be in attendance at this workshop.

This is your opportunity to make sure that school-age childcare is clearly recognised, valued and adequately resourced. Your voice matters. Now is the time to use it.

PlayBoard is hosting a series of consultation workshops, dedicated specifically to school-age childcare provision. These sessions will:

Break down what the draft strategy really means for the SAC sector

Highlight gaps, risks and opportunities for school-age provision

Create space to collectively explore practical, realistic outcomes aligned with the proposed policy direction

Support participants to develop informed, confident responses to the consultation

Help key stakeholders better understand the priorities and lived realities of the SAC sector.

We will be inviting local representatives and MLAs to join the consultation sessions to hear directly from YOU the sector and users of school-age childcare services.

We strongly urge anyone who works in, uses, or has an interest in school-age childcare to attend, speak up, and help shape a future where the sector – and the children it supports – are recognised and prioritised as key components of the childcare infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

Due to expected high demand and limited places, we would respectfully ask that you let us know if you are no longer able to attend.

If you require further information, please contact katherine.lindsay@playboard.co.uk

View other workshop dates

A Place for Play
2026-03-11 10:00 - 12:00
Various dates & locations.

Refresh your play space!

Join us on the date and location convenient to you. All sessions run from 10:00am – 12:00pm.

3 March – Drumellan Afterschools – 12 Drumellan Court, Craigavon BT65 5HT

4 March – Belfast YMCA – 56-58 Knightsbridge Park, Stranmillis, Belfast BT9 5EH

5 March – Lisbane Afterschool Club – 16-18 Lisbarnet Road, Comber, Lisbane, Newtownards BT23 6AW

10 March – Kids Inn Afterschool Club – The Vale Centre, Clooney Road, Greysteel BT47 3GE

11 March – St John’s PS Afterschool Club – 30 Moneysharvan Road, Swatragh, Maghera BT46 5PY

Step into a child’s shoes and explore what makes a school-aged childcare setting feel like a place for each child to belong. Through practical activities and shared discussion, we will discover simple and cost-effective ways to rethink your layout, refresh your play space and build an environment that responds to the different needs and interests of the children.

Take away fresh ideas, realistic strategies and the confidence to develop play opportunities that are meaningful, age-appropriate and shaped by children’s voices. Connect with other afterschool staff, share good practice and leave feeling energised with new inspiration for your setting. Come along, get creative and help transform your setting into a place where children can thrive.

This session is suitable for school-age childcare staff.

Please contact meryl.boyd@playboard.co.uk if you require any further information.

Planning for Play
2026-03-19 10:00 - 12:00
*FULLY BOOKED*

Re-energise play in your afterschool setting!

Step back from the paperwork and the pressure and reconnect with what really matters – children’s play. This session is designed to be fun and engaging with practical ideas to plan for meaningful, play-based experiences in school-aged childcare shaped by the voices, interests and ideas of the children themselves. Working in afterschool isn’t easy. Time is tight, expectations are high fun, risk feels ever-present and screens are competing hard for children’s attention. This session offers a space to pause. Reflect and get inspired, share ideas, challenges and successes with others who truly understand the sector.

You’ll explore realistic, creative ways to plan quality, age-appropriate play experiences that respond to the diverse needs of the children in your setting, supporting their well-being, development and sense of belonging while strengthening your provision at the same time.

Come together with fellow practitioners, spark new ideas and rediscover the power of play.

Let’s work together to get children playing more – and playing better!

This online session is suitable for school-aged childcare staff.

Please contact meryl.boyd@playboard.co.uk if you require any further information.

School-Age Childcare Matters: MLA Engagement (Mid Ulster)
2026-04-29 11:30 - 13:00
Krafty Kidz Coalisland – Parochial Centre (Youth Club), 12 Stewartstown Road, Coalisland, Co Tyrone BT71 4PF

Have your voice heard. Inform the decisions that will shape the future of School-Age Childcare.

School-Age Childcare Matters: Meet Your MLA / Meet Your Constituents

As the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Strategy continues to develop, this is a critical moment to ensure it reflects the real experiences of children, families and services on the ground.

PlayBoard is hosting a series of informal “Meet and Greet” sessions, bringing together School-Age Childcare (SAC) providers and local MLAs to support open, constructive and solution-focused dialogue.

Why This Matters

School-Age Childcare plays a vital role in:

Supporting children’s development and well-being

Enabling parental employment

Sustaining local communities

Yet, there are growing concerns that the needs of children aged 4 to 11 years, and the services that support them, are not fully reflected within the draft ELC Strategy.

The decisions made now will shape the sector for the next decade.

What This Session Offers

A short overview from PlayBoard on the current policy context

Direct engagement between SAC providers and local MLAs

Informal roundtable discussions to share experiences and insights

Opportunity to explore challenges, solutions and future direction

For Providers

This is your opportunity to:

Share your experience of delivering SAC

Highlight the challenges facing your setting

Raise the profile of SAC within your constituency

Influence policy and decision-making

For MLAs

This is your opportunity to:

Hear directly from providers in your constituency

Understand the pressures facing the sector

Explore the impact on local families

Inform your role in shaping future childcare policy

Your Voice Matters

Without meaningful engagement between providers and decision-makers, there is a real risk that School-Age Childcare, and the children and families it supports, will continue to be overlooked.

View more dates

School-Age Childcare Matters: MLA Engagement (South Antrim)
2026-04-30 10:30 - 12:00
Antrim Enterprise Agency, 58 Greystone Road, Antrim BT41 1JZ

Please note – this event has been postponed.

Have your voice heard. Inform the decisions that will shape the future of School-Age Childcare.

School-Age Childcare Matters: Meet Your MLA / Meet Your Constituents

As the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Strategy continues to develop, this is a critical moment to ensure it reflects the real experiences of children, families and services on the ground.

PlayBoard is hosting a series of informal “Meet and Greet” sessions, bringing together School-Age Childcare (SAC) providers and local MLAs to support open, constructive and solution-focused dialogue.

Why This Matters

School-Age Childcare plays a vital role in:

Supporting children’s development and well-being

Enabling parental employment

Sustaining local communities

Yet, there are growing concerns that the needs of children aged 4 to 11 years, and the services that support them, are not fully reflected within the draft ELC Strategy.

The decisions made now will shape the sector for the next decade.

What This Session Offers

A short overview from PlayBoard on the current policy context

Direct engagement between SAC providers and local MLAs

Informal roundtable discussions to share experiences and insights

Opportunity to explore challenges, solutions and future direction

For Providers

This is your opportunity to:

Share your experience of delivering SAC

Highlight the challenges facing your setting

Raise the profile of SAC within your constituency

Influence policy and decision-making

For MLAs

This is your opportunity to:

Hear directly from providers in your constituency

Understand the pressures facing the sector

Explore the impact on local families

Inform your role in shaping future childcare policy

Your Voice Matters

Without meaningful engagement between providers and decision-makers, there is a real risk that School-Age Childcare, and the children and families it supports, will continue to be overlooked.

View all dates

School-Age Childcare Matters: MLA Engagement (Belfast)
2026-05-05 10:30 - 12:00
Girdwood Community Hub, 10 Girdwood Avenue, Belfast BT14 6EG

Please note – this event has been postponed.

Have your voice heard. Inform the decisions that will shape the future of School-Age Childcare.

School-Age Childcare Matters: Meet Your MLA / Meet Your Constituents

As the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Strategy continues to develop, this is a critical moment to ensure it reflects the real experiences of children, families and services on the ground.

PlayBoard is hosting a series of informal “Meet and Greet” sessions, bringing together School-Age Childcare (SAC) providers and local MLAs to support open, constructive and solution-focused dialogue.

Why This Matters

School-Age Childcare plays a vital role in:

Supporting children’s development and well-being

Enabling parental employment

Sustaining local communities

Yet, there are growing concerns that the needs of children aged 4–11, and the services that support them, are not fully reflected within the draft ELC Strategy.

The decisions made now will shape the sector for the next decade.

What This Session Offers

A short overview from PlayBoard on the current policy context

Direct engagement between SAC providers and local MLAs

Informal roundtable discussions to share experiences and insights

Opportunity to explore challenges, solutions and future direction

For Providers

This is your opportunity to:

Share your experience of delivering SAC

Highlight the challenges facing your setting

Raise the profile of SAC within your constituency

Influence policy and decision-making

For MLAs

This is your opportunity to:

Hear directly from providers in your constituency

Understand the pressures facing the sector

Explore the impact on local families

Inform your role in shaping future childcare policy

Your Voice Matters

Without meaningful engagement between providers and decision-makers, there is a real risk that School-Age Childcare, and the children and families it supports, will continue to be overlooked.

View all dates

School-Age Childcare Matters: MLA Engagement (Foyle)
2026-05-07 10:30 - 12:00
Drumahoe Childcare (Londonderry YMCA), 51 Glenshane Road, Drumahoe, Derry/Londonderry BT47 3SF

Please note – this event has been cancelled.

Have your voice heard. Inform the decisions that will shape the future of School-Age Childcare.

School-Age Childcare Matters: Meet Your MLA / Meet Your Constituents

As the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Strategy continues to develop, this is a critical moment to ensure it reflects the real experiences of children, families and services on the ground.

PlayBoard is hosting a series of informal “Meet and Greet” sessions, bringing together School-Age Childcare (SAC) providers and local MLAs to support open, constructive and solution-focused dialogue.

Why This Matters

School-Age Childcare plays a vital role in:

Supporting children’s development and well-being

Enabling parental employment

Sustaining local communities

Yet, there are growing concerns that the needs of children aged 4–11, and the services that support them, are not fully reflected within the draft ELC Strategy.

The decisions made now will shape the sector for the next decade.

What This Session Offers

A short overview from PlayBoard on the current policy context

Direct engagement between SAC providers and local MLAs

Informal roundtable discussions to share experiences and insights

Opportunity to explore challenges, solutions and future direction

For Providers

This is your opportunity to:

Share your experience of delivering SAC

Highlight the challenges facing your setting

Raise the profile of SAC within your constituency

Influence policy and decision-making

For MLAs

This is your opportunity to:

Hear directly from providers in your constituency

Understand the pressures facing the sector

Explore the impact on local families

Inform your role in shaping future childcare policy

Your Voice Matters

Without meaningful engagement between providers and decision-makers, there is a real risk that School-Age Childcare, and the children and families it supports, will continue to be overlooked.

View all dates

School-Age Childcare Matters: MLA Engagement (Mid Ulster)
2026-05-15 10:30 - 12:00
Magherafelt Women’s Group, 27-29 Moneymore Road, Magherafelt BT45 6AG

Have your voice heard. Inform the decisions that will shape the future of School-Age Childcare.

Please note – this event has been cancelled.

School-Age Childcare Matters: Meet Your MLA / Meet Your Constituents

As the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Strategy continues to develop, this is a critical moment to ensure it reflects the real experiences of children, families and services on the ground.

PlayBoard is hosting a series of informal “Meet and Greet” sessions, bringing together School-Age Childcare (SAC) providers and local MLAs to support open, constructive and solution-focused dialogue.

Why This Matters

School-Age Childcare plays a vital role in:

Supporting children’s development and well-being

Enabling parental employment

Sustaining local communities

Yet, there are growing concerns that the needs of children aged 4–11, and the services that support them, are not fully reflected within the draft ELC Strategy.

The decisions made now will shape the sector for the next decade.

What This Session Offers

A short overview from PlayBoard on the current policy context

Direct engagement between SAC providers and local MLAs

Informal roundtable discussions to share experiences and insights

Opportunity to explore challenges, solutions and future direction

For Providers

This is your opportunity to:

Share your experience of delivering SAC

Highlight the challenges facing your setting

Raise the profile of SAC within your constituency

Influence policy and decision-making

For MLAs

This is your opportunity to:

Hear directly from providers in your constituency

Understand the pressures facing the sector

Explore the impact on local families

Inform your role in shaping future childcare policy

Your Voice Matters

Without meaningful engagement between providers and decision-makers, there is a real risk that School-Age Childcare, and the children and families it supports, will continue to be overlooked.

View all dates

For enquiries, please email katherine.lindsay@playboard.co.uk

School-Age Childcare Matters: MLA Engagement
2026-05-21 10:30 - 12:00
Clandeboye Nature Rangers (Clandeboye Estate), 491a Belfast Road, Bangor BT19 1RL

Have your voice heard. Inform the decisions that will shape the future of School-Age Childcare.

Please note – this event has been cancelled.

School-Age Childcare Matters: Meet Your MLA / Meet Your Constituents

As the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Strategy continues to develop, this is a critical moment to ensure it reflects the real experiences of children, families and services on the ground.

PlayBoard is hosting a series of informal “Meet and Greet” sessions, bringing together School-Age Childcare (SAC) providers and local MLAs to support open, constructive and solution-focused dialogue.

Why This Matters

School-Age Childcare plays a vital role in:

Supporting children’s development and well-being

Enabling parental employment

Sustaining local communities

Yet, there are growing concerns that the needs of children aged 4–11, and the services that support them, are not fully reflected within the draft ELC Strategy.

The decisions made now will shape the sector for the next decade.

What This Session Offers

A short overview from PlayBoard on the current policy context

Direct engagement between SAC providers and local MLAs

Informal roundtable discussions to share experiences and insights

Opportunity to explore challenges, solutions and future direction

For Providers

This is your opportunity to:

Share your experience of delivering SAC

Highlight the challenges facing your setting

Raise the profile of SAC within your constituency

Influence policy and decision-making

For MLAs

This is your opportunity to:

Hear directly from providers in your constituency

Understand the pressures facing the sector

Explore the impact on local families

Inform your role in shaping future childcare policy

Your Voice Matters

Without meaningful engagement between providers and decision-makers, there is a real risk that School-Age Childcare, and the children and families it supports, will continue to be overlooked.

View all dates

School-Age Childcare Matters: MLA Engagement (Ballymena)
2026-05-22 10:30 - 12:00
Rankin Room, Midtown Makers Gift Shop, Visitor Information & Business Hub, 51 – 53 Church Street, Ballymena, BT43 6DD

Please note – this event has been cancelled.

Have your voice heard. Inform the decisions that will shape the future of School-Age Childcare.

School-Age Childcare Matters: Meet Your MLA / Meet Your Constituents

As the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Strategy continues to develop, this is a critical moment to ensure it reflects the real experiences of children, families and services on the ground.

PlayBoard is hosting a series of informal “Meet and Greet” sessions, bringing together School-Age Childcare (SAC) providers and local MLAs to support open, constructive and solution-focused dialogue.

Why This Matters

School-Age Childcare plays a vital role in:

Supporting children’s development and well-being

Enabling parental employment

Sustaining local communities

Yet, there are growing concerns that the needs of children aged 4–11, and the services that support them, are not fully reflected within the draft ELC Strategy.

The decisions made now will shape the sector for the next decade.

What This Session Offers

A short overview from PlayBoard on the current policy context

Direct engagement between SAC providers and local MLAs

Informal roundtable discussions to share experiences and insights

Opportunity to explore challenges, solutions and future direction

For Providers

This is your opportunity to:

Share your experience of delivering SAC

Highlight the challenges facing your setting

Raise the profile of SAC within your constituency

Influence policy and decision-making

For MLAs

This is your opportunity to:

Hear directly from providers in your constituency

Understand the pressures facing the sector

Explore the impact on local families

Inform your role in shaping future childcare policy

Your Voice Matters

Without meaningful engagement between providers and decision-makers, there is a real risk that School-Age Childcare, and the children and families it supports, will continue to be overlooked.

For enquiries, please email katherine.lindsay@playboard.co.uk

View all dates

School-Age Childcare Matters: MLA Engagement (Belfast)
2026-05-28 10:30 - 12:00
Girdwood Community Hub, 10 Girdwood Avenue, Belfast BT14 6EG

Have your voice heard. Inform the decisions that will shape the future of School-Age Childcare.

School-Age Childcare Matters: Meet Your MLA / Meet Your Constituents

As the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Strategy continues to develop, this is a critical moment to ensure it reflects the real experiences of children, families and services on the ground.

PlayBoard is hosting a series of informal “Meet and Greet” sessions, bringing together School-Age Childcare (SAC) providers and local MLAs to support open, constructive and solution-focused dialogue.

Why This Matters

School-Age Childcare plays a vital role in:

Supporting children’s development and well-being

Enabling parental employment

Sustaining local communities

Yet, there are growing concerns that the needs of children aged 4–11, and the services that support them, are not fully reflected within the draft ELC Strategy.

The decisions made now will shape the sector for the next decade.

What This Session Offers

A short overview from PlayBoard on the current policy context

Direct engagement between SAC providers and local MLAs

Informal roundtable discussions to share experiences and insights

Opportunity to explore challenges, solutions and future direction

For Providers

This is your opportunity to:

Share your experience of delivering SAC

Highlight the challenges facing your setting

Raise the profile of SAC within your constituency

Influence policy and decision-making

For MLAs

This is your opportunity to:

Hear directly from providers in your constituency

Understand the pressures facing the sector

Explore the impact on local families

Inform your role in shaping future childcare policy

Your Voice Matters

Without meaningful engagement between providers and decision-makers, there is a real risk that School-Age Childcare, and the children and families it supports, will continue to be overlooked.

View all dates

For enquiries, please email katherine.lindsay@playboard.co.uk
