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The Pathway Fund 2025/26 and 2026 /27 is now closed for applications.

Stream A and B of the Pathway Fund supports registered providers or facilitators of early years (0-4) education and learning provision and Stream C, a NEW stream specifically to support registered childminders and Approved Home Childcarers.

Stream A for awards between £20,001 and £40,000
Stream B for awards up to £20,000
Stream C for awards up to £500

The Pathway Fund is one the Department of Education’s (DE) supports for the early years sector. In support of the DE vision “Every child and young person is happy, learning and succeeding”.

The outcomes of the Pathway Fund are:

Improved development of children who are at risk of not reaching their full educational potential ; and
An enhanced, more sustainable Early Years sector.

The Pathway Fund Stream A & Stream B is open to all registered providers or facilitators of Early Years (0-4) education and learning provision such as:

Registered Sessional Daycare Settings (including Out of Schools, Summer Schemes, Playgroups, Crèches).
Registered Full Daycare Providers (Day Nurseries).
Registered Childminders / Approved Home Childcarers.

The Pathway Fund Stream C is open to all Registered Childminders and Approved Home Childcarers (AHCs) from 2025/26

Specifically for applications from registered childminders and Approved Home Childcarers (AHCs)

How can the Pathway Fund help your setting?

Have a look at our Case Studies below to see how successful applicants created better outcomes for children.

Pathway Latest News

News

The Pathway Fund 2025/26 and 2026/27 - More Information

Hear from Audrey Rainey, Early Years Director of Services, as she shares who can apply and where to find all the details.

The Pathway Fund 2025/26 and 2026/27 - NOW OPEN

The Pathway Fund is delighted to announce the opening of three funding streams.

The Pathway Fund 2025/26 and 2026/27

Early Years is delighted that the Pathway Fund will open for applications on Monday 25th November for 2025/2026 and provisionally 2026/2027.

2 New Events for Early Years Governance Week

Free Early Years Governance events in November

Data protection event - 16/11/23

Incorporation Event - 22/11/23

Department of Education protects funding for vulnerable children and young people

The Department of Education has announced it is not proceeding with proposed cuts to Youth Services and a range of Early Years programmes including the Pathway Fund, Sure Start, Bright Start and Toybox.

Help Save The Pathway Fund!

Join us in a campaign to prevent the closure of The Pathway Fund.

Pathway Fund 2023/2024

Early Years is delighted that the Pathway Fund will open for applications for the 2023/24 year,

Early Years Governance Week - The Code of Good Governance

Gain insights into the new code by watching the Code of Good Governance Webinar.

Governance Training Sessions - Early Years Governance Week

Missed our Governance Training Sessions, no worries. Catch up today!

Early Years Digital Support Programme #EYGovernanceWeek

A free programme of ICT training support for settings in the Southern Trust Area, supported by the Southern Childcare Partnership, Early Years Development Fund.

Pathway Case Studies

The Pathway Fund is a diverse and flexible fund which supports registered providers or facilitators of early years (0-4) education and learning provision; to improve the development of children identified as most at risk of not reaching their full potential within the school system. 

The case studies below highlight the range of providers and projects which have been supported by the Pathway Fund.

No one provider or project is the same and the Pathway team would encourage all providers or facilitators to read the case studies below and consider how they could deliver a project supported by the Pathway Fund.

pathway settings — **MAP OF SETTINGS FUNDED BY PATHWAY 2024 / 25**

Stream A – Award between £15,000.01 and £30,000.00 (maximum)

Stream B – Awarded up to £15,000 (Maximum)

Pathway News

Giggles and Wiggles Childcare

As well as directly supporting the children the Giggles and Wiggles leadership have invested heavily in the training and development of their staff. They appreciate the importance of staff development in continuous improvement and the benefits that that can have in producing better outcomes for children.

Strathfoyle Women's Activity Group

The reopening of the creche has been very successful and parents are delighted that their children are making great progress and mixing with others.

Milburn Community Playgroup

The Pathway Fund grant was used to subsidise the child places and open up access to children who otherwise would not have been able to take up a place in an early years setting.

Smart Attack Childcare

Smart Attack is situated in the Hospital Road community centre in Omagh. It serves a community with high levels of disadvantage and the setting reports that without Pathway Funding subsiding places parents in the area would not be able to afford to send their children.

Naiscoil Na Mbeann

Pathway funding has supported development and upskilling of a staff member to City and Guilds Level 5 and the project has provided significant and successful support to families in early identification and intervention for children with additional needs.

Newhill First Steps Child Care

The Pathway Fund supports 10 pre pre places and 10 extended preschool places as well as a range of community relations and additional needs training.

Glenn Community Parent Youth Group

The Pathway Fund helps supports 50 daycare places that are accessed by over 70 individual children. The funding ensures that an affordable daycare service can be offered to parents who are unlikely to be able to access childcare due to their financial need.

West Bann Development

West Bann Development delivers a community based Creche Service supporting children aged between 0-4 years of age in Coleraine. Watch the inspiring video showcasing this impactful project!