Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has announced a series of significant updates to childcare regulations in Northern Ireland, focusing on GP health assessments for staff and permanent changes to adult-to-child ratios.

The reforms follow a public consultation and are designed to balance the maintenance of high safety standards with the practical challenges faced by providers.

To streamline the recruitment process, the requirement for a GP-countersigned health declaration will now be limited to those in senior roles. This includes childminders, managers of day care settings, and assistant managers.

Previously, all prospective childcare workers were required to provide these declarations, a policy that many consultation respondents felt hindered recruitment due to the high volume of assessments requested from GPs. Staff members not requiring a GP signature will work under the supervision of senior personnel, ensuring any health-related concerns can still be identified and addressed.

Minister Nesbitt stated: "Maintaining the high level of safety and quality within our childcare sector is of paramount importance, while at the same time supporting providers with the challenges they face. I am committed to improving the childcare experience for all stakeholders – providers, staff, parents and carers. The changes outlined below will, I hope, provide some stability and certainty to the sector." Effective from 1 June 2026, new ratios for individual childminders will be introduced:

• Infants: Childminders may care for two children under 18 months (an increase from the previous limit of one child under 12 months).

• Pre-school age: A maximum of three children under compulsory school age is permitted. This rises to four if at least two are siblings and one is under school age.

• School age: Childminders can care for up to eight children under the age of 12 in total, including their own children, provided no more than six are under the age of eight.

The temporary ratios introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic in October 2021 have now been made permanent. These standards require:

• Under 2s: 1 adult to 3 children.

• Age 2: 1 adult to 5 children.

• Age 3: 1 adult to 8 children.

• Age 4+: 1 adult to 10 children.

In all group day care settings, at least two staff members must be present in every room at all times.

Minister Nesbitt added: "I would like to thank all those interested parties and individuals who took part in the consultation. My officials will be making contact with a range of stakeholders, including HSC Trusts, childcare providers, parents and staff, to seek their feedback on the wider Minimum Standards. Any further proposed changes to the Minimum Standards will be made in the context of my overall priority of ensuring childcare remains a safe and high quality experience for all children."