What does a better early years education and childcare infrastructure look like in NI?

CO3 is delighted to partner with the Carnegie Trust UK to lead on a series of virtual fireside conversations leading up to a conference on 8 December 2021 themed under “What Kind of Northern Ireland (NI)  do we want”?

The Carnegie UK Trust (CUKT) was set up to improve the wellbeing of the people of the UK and Ireland. Over the past five years we have been working with partners in Northern Ireland on embedding a wellbeing approach in government.

We know that COVID-19 will have major long-term impacts for Northern Ireland communities, economy, and the delivery of essential public services.  We are therefore hosting this event to explore key questions for improving wellbeing in Northern Ireland and share practical ideas for tackling the challenges ahead through a series of online discussions. Attendees will include civil society, government, business and academic leaders and practitioners. The discussions will be designed to be as inclusive as possible to support a range of experiences and views to be heard. 

Using online workshops and roundtable discussions the project will identify and explore key questions, test assumptions and expectations about the post-COVID-19 future and start developing ideas and sharing practical plans for the challenges ahead.

The conversation themes have been shaped by a Steering Group of leaders working across the public, private and third sectors.  

Steering Group Members

-Jennifer Wallace, Carnegie UK Trust

-Kerry Anthony, Inspire 

-Maeve Monaghan, Now Group

-Neil Gibson,  EY

-Jennifer Neff,  Elemental

-David Sterling, Chief Executives Forum

-Suzanne Wylie,  Belfast City Council

The format of the conversations will include international speakers offering us the benefit of their expertise and experiences, followed by a panel conversation with a wide range of local leaders. The first conversation will focus on early year,  education and childcare.    We would welcome your contribution as part of the conversation.  We are delighted to announce the details of the first fireside conversation.  

What does a better early years education and childcare infrastructure look like in NI?

The adequate provision of childcare and early-years support is a necessary component of the response to COVID-19, both in facilitating the economic participation of parents/carers and in ensuring the development and progression of children. 

Increased focus on the childcare sector and its critical role in underpinning the broader economy should serve to drive dedicated policy and investment to improve the sector's sustainability. 

The response to the COVID-19 crisis has added to, not diminished, the need for appropriate, accessible and affordable childcare provision. Childcare provision is fundamental to supporting the workforce to deliver economic recovery and maximising economic participation and key to increasing women's economic participation.  Yet NI remains the only region of the UK without an integrated childcare strategy.  It raises questions on Why and What needs to change

• Lessons learnt on developing an integrated childcare strategy for NI

• The role of childcare in delivering inclusive economic recovery, advancing equality and improving wellbeing

• The role of childcare for effective early years development 

International panellists:

• Peter Moss 

• Gordon Cleveland - University of Toronto 

Local panellists:

• Aoife Hamilton, Employers for Childcare 

• Roseann Kelly, Women in Business 

• Lynn Carvill, Women's Tec

• Celine McStravick, NCB