To ask the Minister of Education whether he has made any assessment of the administrative burden placed on schools, and childcare providers, participating in the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme.

Participation in the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS) is voluntary and at the discretion of individual childcare providers and schools. While the Department cannot mandate registration, it strongly encourages uptake by offering financial assistance to support administration costs to register for the scheme. A one-off registration payment is made to providers alongside the initial claim to support set-up on the NICSS portal for processing claims and maintaining records. This is further supplemented by a monthly administration fee based on the number of children within the provider using the scheme each month.

In addition, ongoing practical support is made available through the Early Years Organisation (EYO), which administers the NICSS on behalf of my Department. EYO provides training and ongoing assistance to help providers and schools implement the scheme smoothly and effectively.

My officials continue to monitor NICSS uptake amongst all types of providers and schools, and EYO will liaise directly with settings on a one to one basis where any issues are identified. Direct engagement with schools is currently underway through a survey issued on 19 January to understand any barriers or practical challenges schools face in registering for the NICSS.