All Party Working Group
 

All Party Group on Early Education and Childcare

 

The Stormont All Party Group on Early Education and Childcare was established in 2020 to promote best practice policy and provision in the delivery of early education and childcare in Northern Ireland. Following its Annual General Meeting in May 2024, the following officers were elected:

Chairperson: Nicola Brogan, MLA (Sinn Féin)

Vice-Chairperson: Diane Dodds, MLA (DUP)

Secretary: Sinead McLaughlin, MLA (SDLP)

Treasurer: Kate Nicholl, MLA (Alliance)

Further information about the All Party Group can be found on the Northern Ireland Assembly website here.

Since its establishment, the Group has met every second month and, as well as its MLA membership, has benefited from the constructive engagement of a wide range of key stakeholders including:

  • Departmental officials

  • Membership bodies from the early education and childcare sectors

  • Childcare providers

  • Charities and civic society organisations

  • Women’s sector lobbyists

  • Industry and employer representatives

  • Academics

  • Trade Unions

  • Other elected representatives

Meetings of the Group provide an opportunity to hear from expert speakers and practitioners, as well as to discuss key issues affecting children, parents, childcare providers and our economy and society as a whole. They are regularly attended by 40+ stakeholders from across the childcare and early education sectors.

The final meeting of 2024 for the All Party Group on Early Education and Childcare was held on the 12th December, with Early Years Organisation taking over the reins as Secretariat to the Group for the first time, access the notes below -

For notes on previous meetings of the All Party Group on Early Education and Childcare please visit the Employers for Childcare website here;

For further information please contact apg@early-years.org