Childcare in Northern Ireland
Results from the NI Childcare Survey 2024
Key statistics
62%
of children aged 0-4 used childcare and
43%
used paid childcare
For 0-11 year olds,
56%
used childcare and
37%
used paid childcare
The median monthly childcare payment per child was
£225
The median cost rose to
£630
for a child using 31–40 hours per week
Children aged 0-4 spend
20 hours
per week in childcare.
86%
of households with children 0-4 said childcare was very good or good
However,
48%
of households said that childcare costs are very unaffordable or fairly unaffordable
The NI Childcare Survey 2024 is one element of the commitment to collect more robust and comprehensive data from the sector.
The information presented will be used to assist the Department in more effectively evaluating current provision and interventions, focusing its policies on addressing the key issues that will aim to make childcare more affordable and to inform the future longer-term development of an Early Learning and Childcare strategy.
Further information on all the results is available in the full Childcare in Northern Ireland 2024 report. The full report also contains contact details should you have any further queries.
Use of childcare
Use of childcare by children aged 0-4
- 62% of children aged 0-4 used at least one type of childcare
- 43% of children aged 0-4 used at least one type of paid childcare
Childcare quality
Types of childcare used by children aged 0-11 years old
- 44% of children aged 0 -11 had not received any form of childcare provision.
- Of the most commonly used childcare types, 32% of children aged 0-11 used grandparents or relatives to provide childcare. After school club in school, breakfast club in school, registered childminder and day nursery were also in the top five most commonly used childcare types.
Hours of childcare used by children per week
- Children aged 0-4 spend on average 20 hours in childcare per week, compared to 9 hours for children aged 5-11.
Reasons for using childcare for children aged 0-4
- The main reasons for households using childcare were mostly related to the needs of the parents. The most common reason was to allow attendance at work, other reasons included attending appointments, socialising, study and other caring responsibilities.
- However, the second most common reason was to provide opportunities for the child to socialise with other children.
Paying for childcare
Average monthly payment for childcare (per child)
- Overall, the average (median) monthly payment for childcare was £225 per child, this rose to £630 when using 31-40 hours of childcare.
Affordability of childcare
- A larger proportion (48%) consider their childcare costs to be unaffordable compared to 26% who consider their childcare costs to be affordable.
Average monthly payment for childcare (per child) by area
- Monthly childcare costs per child, compared to the NI median of £225, ranged from £136 in Causeway Coast & Glens Council to £288 in both Belfast City Council and Derry City & Strabane Council.
Average monthly payment for childcare (per child) by child’s age
- Median childcare costs were at their highest for the first two years, at or over £500 per child per month.
- Costs then drop to £415 per child per month at age 3 and then more steeply to £190 at age four, when most children will start primary school.
Decisions about childcare
Most important factor when choosing a childcare provider
- The most important factors were similar for all households and households with children aged 0-4 years old. Providers reputation and cost were the two most important factors, followed by the providers approach to child development.
Other key findings
22% of households saw a reduction of £61 to £90 per month in childcare costs due to the NI Childcare Subsidy Scheme (19% saw a reduction of £31 to £60 and 19% saw a reduction of £91 to £120).
58% responded that work, education or training decisions changed as a result of childcare needs.
69% of households reduced their working hours due to childcare needs.