Partnerships
Southern Childcare Partnership
Click on logo to visit the Southern Childcare Partnership website.
What is it all about?
'Children First' the Northern Ireland Childcare Strategy led to the establishment of the Southern Childcare Partnership in April 2000. The Childcare Partnership's remit is to assess the demand for childcare and family support services, direct investment to meet that need, raise the quality of childcare and ensure that reliable information on childcare services is readily available.
Who's involved?
The Southern Childcare Partnership is a multi-agency forum of statutory, voluntary, community and private organisations working in childcare and family support with children aged 0-14 years and their families. There are 24 members of the Partnership representing and reporting back to 17 organisations. These include the Health & Social Services Board & Trusts, Department of Employment & Learning, N I Housing Executive, Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, the Education sector, voluntary sector umbrella groups, community groups and the private sector.
What does the Partnership do?
The Southern Childcare Partnership produces a three-year strategic plan, which sets out how the Partnership will deliver the Children First objectives in the Southern Area. Consultation with parents, children, employers and communities is an important part of this planning process. The Partnership works with major funders such as the Childhood, New Opportunities Fund, etc, to ensure that funding is invested strategically. Innovative family support projects such as Sure Start are monitored through the Childcare Partnership.