Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason called for Education Minister Paul Givan's childcare proposals to deliver more support and equity to pre-schools across Northern Ireland.

Mason, who serves as the party's spokesperson on childcare and early years, highlighted the essential contributions of staff including nursery assistants to children's development in those initial years.

She stated that Givan's initiative to extend free pre-school hours needs to fix disparities in funding among early years facilities, where some pre-schools operate with fewer resources.

Mason argued that uniform backing for every early years provider would create equity for those running the services and reliable access for children and their families.

The proposals require adequate budgets for early learning programs and proper resources for personnel to ensure all children receive a strong foundation, according to Mason.

Sinn Féin plans to partner with parents and early years employees to improve the minister's proposals.