Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Education (i) what financial support scheme will be made available for the recovery of the childcare sector; and (ii) when the scheme will open.
Minister of Education: I announced the £10.5 million Childcare Recovery Support fund for the childcare sector on 22 July.
As part of the childcare recovery plan, the aim of the Fund is to assist childcare providers to re-open, and to support those providers that have already opened.
The Childcare Recovery Fund will provide financial support for the period 1 July to 31 August 2020. The Fund opened for applications from Monday 27 July 2020 and will be administered by Early Years – the organisation for young children, on behalf of my Department.
The package of measures will cover the following:
Childcare Settings – different levels of flat rate funding based on the type of setting and number of registered places. This will support day care providers, stand-alone school age childcare providers and playgroups.
Childminder Support – a flat rate grant for childminders.
Approved Home Childcare – arrangements established under the previous childcare scheme will continue to enable childcare workers, who normally provide childcare to children in day care and school age childcare facilities, to be matched to parents in order to care for children in their own homes.
Details of the Scheme are available on the attached link:-
https://www.early-years.org/childcare-recovery-support-fund
ENDS
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