Motion: High Quality Affordable Childcare

Motion: High Quality Affordable Childcare

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises that the costs of childcare are unaffordable for many and that hard-working families are struggling every month to meet these costs; further recognises that the childcare sector is in need of urgent and significant investment in order to put the sector on a sustainable footing, to improve terms and conditions for workers and to deliver the high quality and accessible provision that families and children deserve; notes that without affordable childcare provision many people, particularly women, are unable to take up or return to employment; agrees that affordable childcare would have a hugely positive impact on our local economy; acknowledges that high quality childcare and early years education can help to give children the best start in life, support children with Special Educational Needs to help address educational disadvantage and promote emotional health and well-being amongst children; and calls on the Executive to work collectively to deliver a strategy which makes high quality childcare affordable for all families a priority.

Ms Cathy Mason
Ms Nicola Brogan
Mr Danny Baker
Ms Liz Kimmins

Amendment 1

Leave out all after the last ‘help’ and insert:

‘prevent educational disadvantage and promote emotional health and well-being amongst children: calls on the Minister of Education to listen to the views of parents and businesses by way of a deliberate consultation; and further calls on the Executive to work collectively to deliver a strategy which makes high quality childcare affordable for all families a priority.’

[Mr Robbie Butler]

Read the transcript of the motion and the debate.