To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the review of Minimum Standards for Childminding and Day Care for Children Under Age 12.

The department developed and published the Minimum Standards for Childminding and Day Care for Children Under Age 12 in 2012, to provide families in Northern Ireland with assurance of a consistent level of quality in childcare services and to ensure a regional approach to registration and inspection across HSC Trusts. The Standards supplement and support the legal requirements set out in The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and associated Guidance and Regulations (Volume 2).

The childcare landscape has changed significantly since 2012, and I am fully aware of the range of challenges currently facing the sector. Work is underway across Departments, led by the Department of Education, to support the development of a new Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy with the dual aims of supporting child development and enabling parental employment.

The delivery of affordable and accessible childcare is a commitment of the Northern Ireland Executive and effective legislative and standards frameworks will be a key to delivering on that commitment. I have made a commitment to undertake a full review of the Minimum Standards.

A wide range of stakeholders have already expressed an interest in coming forward to assist the department with the review, and my officials will be contacting those individuals in the coming weeks to formally commence the review.