The Department of Health has today launched a public consultation
asking for a wide range of views on two key childcare issues.
These are:
- The requirement for all prospective childcare workers to
provide a GP-countersigned health assessment prior to commencing
work with children;
and
- The adult:child ratios currently in place for group childcare
and childminding settings.
Health Minister said: “Childcare is a
key priority for the Executive and my Department has a role to
play in ensuring that the registration and inspection of
childcare provision is proportionate, consistent, and
effective.
“My Department developed and published the Minimum
Standards for Childminding and Day Care in 2012 to provide
families in Northern Ireland with assurance of a level of quality
in childcare services and to ensure a regional approach to
registration and inspection across HSC Trusts.
“The childcare landscape has changed significantly since
2012, and I am fully aware of the range of challenges currently
facing the sector. This consultation exercise marks the start of
the process of reviewing the Minimum Standards in their
entirety.”
The consultation document sets out a series of options in
relation to the requirement for GP countersigned health
assessments and adult to child ratios for both group childcare
and childminders.
It also details the Department of Health's preferred options. In
the consultation questionnaire, people are being asked whether or
not they agree with the Department's assessment.
The consultation focusses on the two key regulatory issues which
have been consistently raised with the Department in recent
years.
The Minister added: “I want to encourage as many
childcare sector representatives, childminders, day care
providers, day care staff, childminding assistants, parents and
carers to respond to the consultation as possible, to ensure that
my final decisions with regards to potential changes in these
areas are informed by a wide range of experiences and
views.”
The consultation is open for 12 weeks and closes on 20 June 2025.
The consultation documents and details on how to respond are
available on the Department of Health website at Consultation on Proposals to
amend the Minimum Standards for Childminding and Day Care for
Children Under Age 12 | Department of
Health and Citizen Space Consultation on Proposals to
amend the Minimum Standards for Childminding and Day Care for
Children Under Age 12 - NI Direct - Citizen Space.
