The Ulster Unionist Party has welcomed the draft Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy but warned that parents must see genuine value from any reforms.

Ulster Unionist Education spokesperson Jon Burrows MLA said:

“I welcome the draft Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy as a step in the right direction. The Minister’s proposals are ambitious, but key issues remain unresolved. The strategy fails to tackle a fundamental problem with financial support. Parents tell me that as soon as support was increased, childcare providers raised their fees by the same amount. That is not sustainable.

“I have constituents who tell me they pay over £2,000 a month for childcare, and for many, work does not make financial sense. An effective childcare strategy is vital to support children and families, but also to grow our economy. Many parents, particularly women, are priced out of work by the cost of childcare, and when they return to work they have missed opportunities for career advancement. This, in turn, exacerbates the gender pay gap in our society.

“An effective childcare strategy empowers families and will help unlock economic potential, as well as ensuring children are well cared for. Working families should be rewarded for hard work and dedication, and that must be done alongside supporting those in genuine need and those who are disadvantaged. Many people across our society are working hard but only just making ends meet, and yet are trying to do the right thing. All our policies need to support them to thrive.

“I have already asked the Minister, in light of the recent rise in the National Minimum Wage, what safeguards will be put in place to prevent disproportionate fee increases by providers registered under the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme. I await his written response. If we are investing at this scale, we must guarantee proper stewardship of public money.

“We should also look to best practices abroad. In the Nordic countries, parents pay modest fees, often capped at 3-10% of household income and children access care from around six months until school begins at age six or seven. That model delivers better value for families and taxpayers alike.

“Finally, we must consider the bigger picture: the transition from childcare to education, continuity of learning, staff development, Special Educational Needs provision, and regulatory oversight.”