evidence: The childcare system in Northern Ireland has reached a breaking point – for parents and for early learning and childcare providers. Early learning and childcare is not affordable for families. The last Northern Ireland Childcare Survey (2023) found the cost of a full–time childcare place is now over £10,000 per year – for 41% of families, childcare is their largest monthly outgoing ahead of their mortgage or rent. For some families, paying for childcare is leading to household debt, with 56% using means other than their income to pay for childcare, including savings, credit cards and loans. [...] Northern Ireland requires a bespoke funding model for the sector to better meet the needs of all families but with a focus on disadvantaged children. While the recent announcement by the Education Minister of a package of support for early learning and childcare, including a new Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy scheme, is a welcome interim measure, it is initially focused only on supporting eligible working parents of children under school age. The detail of how the scheme will be rolled out and further information around eligibility, is still to be confirmed.