The scope of the Team has developed significantly since the Children (NI) Order 1995, with new and expanding responsibilities in the Day-care field. It now covers Registration, Support, Monitoring and Inspection of Day Nurseries, Playgroups, Childminders, Creches, Out Of School Facilities and some Summer Schemes. In addition to the statutory work, the Early Years Team continues to be involved in the wider developmental aspects of Early Years which includes for example, involvement in strategies aimed at recruitment of providers, increasing quality, identifying training needs, assessing and allocating grants etc.

The Team is managed by a Senior Social Worker covering both the Lisburn and Downpatrick sectors of the Trust. There are currently seven social work staff, four of whom are full time, with four administration staff (two secretaries one full time and one part time and two clerical officers one full time and one part time). The Team currently also has a Social Work Assistant on a year’s pilot scheme to assist with a variety of non-statutory tasks to improve the quality of childcare e.g support work with day-care Providers, Pre-Registration Training, setting up a small Video Library (with monies won in the recent Trust’s Chairman’s Prize). As time and resources permit, the Team is keen to move further into all the developmental areas of Day-care.

Contact Details:

Early years Team Lisburn Sector	Early Years Team Downpatrick Sector
Warren Children’s Centre 61 Woodland Park Lisburn BT28 1LQ Tel: 028 92 607528	Ward 25, Downshire Estate Ardglass Road Downpatrick BT30 6RA Tel: 028 44 613311