Budget 2023

Early Years welcome the announcement from the Chancellor today regarding investment for the early learning and childcare sector. It marks a significant milestone for the sector to be at the centre of a budget and to be recognised as essential infrastructure for a growing region. While it will take time to review the detail it is nonetheless a welcomed intention into an inadequately funded sector.

However, we are far off the required 1% GDP and decades behind other countries in terms of investment in young children and families. There is a real requirement by the next Executive for substantial additional investment, beyond the consequentials to ensure sustainable, high quality early learning and care within Northern Ireland.