NI Childcare Subsidy Scheme support will continue for 2025-2026

Education Minister Paul Givan has confirmed that the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme will continue into 2025-2026. In addition, there will be an uplift in the support for both parents and childcare providers to reflect the additional costs incurred by childcare providers and the anticipated resulting rise in childcare fees.

The scheme, initially introduced in September 2024, provides a 15% subsidy on childcare costs for working parents with children not yet in primary school. This initiative has so far resulted in over £6.5 million in savings for families across Northern Ireland, and when combined with Tax-Free Childcare, working families have saved over £14 million since September 2024.

Key changes for from April 2025:

· Increased Subsidy Cap: From April the maximum subsidy cap per child will rise by 10% to £184 per month per child, and £367 per month for a child with a disability.

· Increased Childcare Provider Payments: To support childcare providers amid rising operational costs and to prevent these costs from being passed onto parents, the administrative payments to providers participating in the NI Childcare Subsidy Scheme will be increased.

The NI Childcare Subsidy Scheme is only available to parents who are also using Tax-Free Childcare and can be used to pay the costs of registered childcare providers including day nurseries, childminders, Approved Home Childcarers and some breakfast and afterschool clubs.

Further information

For more information on the NI Childcare Subsidy Scheme, Tax-Free Childcare and support for registered childcare costs through Universal Credit, contact the Family Benefits Advice Service on 028 9267 8200 or email hello@employersforchildcare.org.