All Party Group on Early Education and Childcare
The All Party Group brings together Members of the Legislative Assembly, or MLAs, from different parties to discuss early education and childcare, with contributions from practitioners, researchers and sector organisations.
Early Years provides the Group’s secretariat support and a contact point for meeting enquiries.
About the Group
Bringing different perspectives into the discussion
Established in 2020, the Group’s stated purpose is to promote good practice in early education and childcare policy and provision in Northern Ireland.
Meetings provide opportunities to hear from speakers, consider research and discuss issues affecting children, families and childcare providers. Contributors have included departmental officials, childcare providers, sector membership bodies, charities, women’s organisations, employers, academics, trade unions and other elected representatives.
Understanding the Group’s role
The Group is a forum for discussion, not an Assembly Committee. It does not have a formal role in developing policy on behalf of the Assembly, and its views should not be presented as the Assembly’s position.
Meetings
Ask about forthcoming meetings
For information about future meetings, agendas and attendance arrangements, contact the Early Years Communications team. You can also ask about the process for sharing relevant research or information with the Group.
Meeting notes
Explore the discussions
Read published notes from the Group’s meetings, including presentations, departmental updates and issues raised by participants. Meeting notes describe the discussion: policy proposals, funding arrangements and consultation deadlines mentioned in older notes may since have changed.
28 May 2026 meeting note
Minimum Standards consultation and early learning updates
The Group heard a Department of Health update on consultation responses concerning the Minimum Standards for Childminding and Day Care for Children Under Age 12. Discussion also covered the draft Early Learning and Childcare Strategy.
16 April 2026 meeting note
Annual General Meeting and programme updates
The Group elected its officers and received updates from the Departments of Education and Health on the draft strategy, early years programmes and the Minimum Standards consultation.
More meeting notes
Explore other published APG meeting notes and updates.
Officers
The Group’s officers
The following officers were elected at the Annual General Meeting on 16 April 2026 and are listed in the Assembly register.
Chair
Cathy Mason MLA
Sinn Féin
Vice-Chair
Cheryl Brownlee MLA
Democratic Unionist Party
Secretary
Sinéad McLaughlin MLA
Social Democratic and Labour Party
Treasurer
Michelle Guy MLA
Alliance Party
Early Years’ role
Early Years provides secretariat support to the Group. For meeting information and general APG enquiries, use the contact details below.
Contact
Contact the Early Years Communications team
Questions about the All Party Group
- apg@early-years.org
- Telephone
- 028 9066 2825
Have a question about a meeting, attendance arrangements or a published meeting note? Contact the team and tell us what information you need.