Parents must be a key part of designing a new childcare system and included in short- and long-term intervention discussions.

Urgent intervention is needed while we wait for long term childcare reform. Any financial support injected into the sector must resolve to financially assist the families’ utilising childcare, redress fee increases following the National Living Wage uplift and reduce their bills. 

Tax Free Childcare reform: We urge the Executive to call on the Treasury for an immediate removal of the cap on tax-free allowance and extension of the government contribution to families’ childcare accounts from 20% to 30%. Or alternatively, find a way to ‘top up’ the additional contribution from the block grant – this will have significantly positive impact on families who are at crisis point due to their childcare bill.

Establish a sustainable childcare system: it is not good enough that a childcare strategy has been in the making for 25 years. The Executive must make childcare a political priority by delivering interim support measures to alleviate financial pressure on families, as well as a long-term childcare strategy, accompanied by a timeline for implementation.