Parent registration now open for Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme

In May 2024 Education Minister Paul Givan, MLA announced a package of support for the childcare sector, which includes a new Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy scheme (NICSS). The NICSS will support parents who use Tax-Free Childcare and have children below school age by paying 15% of their childcare costs, from 1 September 2024. The scheme has currently been confirmed until March 2025.

To benefit from the scheme parents are being asked to register their children by 20 August at the following link: www.early-years.org/nicss/parents

To register for the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme

Parents must register each eligible child (below school age) separately and will need the following:

• A Tax-Free Childcare registration number for each child (this can be found on correspondence from HMRC and is typically a combination of letters and numbers eg for Adam Smith it would be A SMI ####)
• A copy of the Tax-Free Childcare quarterly confirmation letter/notice for each child – this can be a screen shot or screen grab that clearly shows:
  • Name of the child
  • The quarterly expiration date
• This will need to be uploaded as part of the registration process.

Only eligible children registered by 20 August will be processed for a subsidy in the September cycle. If you register after this date, you may only be able receive the subsidy for the months following your registration.

Parents who change provider between 1 September 2024and 31 March 2025, will be required to register their child/ren with the new provider to continue to receive the subsidy.  Whilst late registrations will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, please note that there must be a valid reason.

For further information, please contact: nicssparent@early-years.org

Advice for parents

Parents must be claiming Tax-Free Childcare to receive the new Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy, but many parents in Northern Ireland use a form of support other than Tax-Free Childcare (eg Universal Credit, Tax Credits or Childcare Vouchers) to help with their childcare costs.

We would encourage parents to contact us before they make any decisions about moving from their existing form of support to join Tax-Free Childcare, as this may or may not be the best option for your family. Telephone 028 9267 8200 or email hello@employersforchildcare.org for a personalised ‘better off’ calculation to find out what is best for your family.

FAQs

The Department of Education has published a FAQs document to assist parents and childcare providers in understanding how the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy scheme will work and in applying to join the scheme – available here.