Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme – update for childcare providers
In May 2023 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.
For eligible families to benefit from the scheme, their childcare provider must be registered with HMRC to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments. Further details on how to register to receive Tax-Free Childcare is available here.
Providers asked to register to administer the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme
Emails have been sent from Family Support NI to registered childcare providers with a link to pre-register for the NICSS – only those providers who pre-register will be able to participate in the scheme.
Once providers have pre-registered they will receive a link to complete their profile and to access the training programme. There will be a dedicated team in place to provide support through the registration and monthly claim process.
The training programme will support childcare providers to do the following:
- Complete their registration on the portal so they can offer the subsidy to eligible children who attend their setting.
- Set Up and Implement some amendments to their normal invoicing processes.
- Claim monthly on the dedicated portal.
Providers will only be able to access more information once they have completed pre-registration. This will ensure that they are ready to apply the subsidy from 1st September 2024.
More information is available on the Early Years website here.
Anyone who experiences difficulty registering, or has questions about the administration of the scheme should email: nicssprovider@early-years.org
Advice for parents
Childcare providers will be the first point of contact for parents with questions about the new NICSS, including from parents who are not using Tax-Free Childcare and are want to find out what this means for them.
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. Childcare providers should signpost anyone with questions about what is best for their family to Employers For Childcare’s Family Benefits Advice Service for personalised advice. 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. Telephone 028 9267 8200 or email hello@employersforchildcare.org for free, impartial and confidential advice.
