Background to the Development of Childcare Partnerships

The Childcare Partnerships (CCP’s) were first established in April 2000 as a result of the Northern Ireland Childcare Strategy, “Children First” (1999).

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) had lead responsibility for the delivery of this strategy and it was recognised that successful implementation of the strategy would depend on a range of professionals and agencies working together.

This led to the establishment of four CCP’s initially with representation from statutory, voluntary, community and independent sectors.

Policy responsible for ‘Early Years’ including the CCP’s transferred from DHSSPS to the Department of Education (DE) in November 2006.

The then four former legacy Health and Social Services Boards provided a lead to the CCP’s with arrangements and budgets confirmed on an annual basis.

A Regional Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) was established by Section 7 (1) of the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) in 2009 replacing the four Health and Social Services Boards.

In April 2011, a re-alignment of function and funding was agreed. Sure Start policy transferred to DE and responsibility for the CCP’s, and childcare transferred back to the Department of Health (DOH).

Following the closure of the Regional HSCB, on 31 March 2022, HSCB functions migrated to the DOH and staff management to the Business Services Organisation (BSO).

The Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) was set up within the DOH to undertake the current functions of the HSCB. The SPPG currently provides a lead to the Childcare Partnership team with arrangements and budgets confirmed on an annual basis.

The five Childcare Partnerships merged into one Regional Childcare Partnership in 2023.

The Childcare Partnership team have operational responsibility for a range of early years funding streams including.

• The Department of Education - Sure Start Programme, Bright Start School Aged Childcare Grant Scheme and the Bright Start Holiday Grants Scheme;

• The Department of Health - Early Years Development Fund and the Fair Play Small Grant Scheme.