The Childcare Section of the Programme for Government is a betrayal of the needs of children and parents. Experts say that from birth to the age of five or six are the most important years in a child’s early development. Yet childcare continues to be a major issue, and a financial burden, for many parents and a serious obstacle to employment, particularly for women.

Parents in England Scotland and Wales can avail of up to 30 hours childcare free of charge, each week in term time, but not so in Northern Ireland. Schemes which are available locally, including child tax credits, are unable to produce the required results. Parents are being priced out of affording the childcare that they desperately need to work. The long-overdue and yet to be delivered Early Learning and Childcare Strategy should have been a day one priority for the restored Executive.

Yet what we are now seeing is a tinkering around the edges of the status quo and merely an aspiration to work towards free childcare places. Working class families and working-class children are particularly affected. Their right to a guaranteed start in life must be prioritized, we must now make that a legal entitlement.

Only when parents can avail of high quality, centrally planned, publicity funded, accessible and flexible childcare, can we say that we are investing in their future. Only then can parents have the security to remain in work, training or education. Only then can our society and our economy fully realise the benefits of a skilled and confident workforce. Only then will future generations be given the best start in life. Our children deserve nothing less.