The development of the BCCN was initiated in 1997 by the Regional Advisory Service of the IPPA, The Early Childhood Organisation. The BCCN was formed initially in response to the total lack of resources available to support the development of childcare services throughout the region. All childcare services, both individually and committee managed, were in considerable need of financial assistance to meet the requirements of the pre-school regulations. 

In an effort to highlight the resource needs of service providers and ensure greater access to resources, the IPPA Advisory team invited representatives from ECHO, a local childcare organisation in Donegal and An Comhchoiste Réamhscolaíochta to join with them in the formation of a Border Counties Childcare Network. The development of the a Network would highlight the needs of all service providers within the region and ensure that all groups worked together towards ensuring greater access to resources and support for all providers. 

In early 1997  the BCCN  submitted  to the Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation for a small amount of funding to carry out a research project which would seek to identify:
The training needs of all providers within the region; Training available; The barriers to training; The resource needs of providers in upgrading their service to meet the requirement of the childcare regulation; The interest of providers in accessing a quality approval mark for their service. 

In coming together from each of the six southern border counties to successfully carry out the research project, Network members developed a process of working together and sharing information on the development of services at local level. Sharing information highlighted the resources available from a variety of agencies a local level to support the development of childcare services. The level of resources and support varied considerably between agencies within each county and highlighted the need for a more co-ordinated approach to supporting the development of services from all agencies operating throughout the region. 

Towards the end of 1997 Network members approached the North Eastern and North Western Health Boards to seek their increased support for the development of childcare services and their involvement within the Network. Thanks to both the moral and financial support of the North Eastern Health Board and North Western Health Boards a number of consultation sessions were held in the Autumn of 1997 with a variety of agencies operating within the region. These included Staff from both Health Boards, IPPA, ECHO, An Comhchoiste Réamhscolaíochta,  the nine Area Based Partnership Companies operating within the border counties, FAS, The Cross Border Women’s Network, The IPPA/NIPPA Cross Border Rural Childcare Project and the Drogheda community Childcare Forum. All representatives agreed to become members of the network.

In expanding the Network to include representatives from the voluntary, community, private and statutory it was possible to harness the interest, commitment, experience and expertise of a variety of key people working in the area of childcare. 

Agreement was reached to work collaboratively across the Region in order to improve access to resources and:
• develop a common vision and mission statement
• agree shared principles, aims and objectives.
• Prepare a submission for major financial assistance from the Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation and the North Eastern and North Western Health Boards to support the development of a co-ordinated approach to the development and delivery of a range of early childhood services for children aged 0-14.

A steering group was elected representing Health Boards, the Voluntary, Community and private sectors and the Area Based Partnership Companies and an application for funding was subsequently submitted and approved by Peace and Reconciliation and both Health Boards.

 In 1998 the Network became a company Limited by Guarantee