Minister for Children and Social Care, MS: We are committed to
supporting families with the costs of childcare through the
Childcare Offer for Wales.
Our flagship Childcare Offer provides up to 30 hours of
government-funded nursery education and childcare for 48 weeks a
year for eligible families with children aged three and four, in
work, training or education. This is in addition to our Flying
Start childcare offer for families with children aged two.
We currently review the hourly rate paid to childcare providers
every three years. As part of the current review cycle, childcare
providers and representative bodies asked us to reconsider the
regularity of reviews. In its follow up inquiry into childcare
provision in Wales, the Senedd's Equalities and Social Justice
Committee also called for a move to annual reviews of the hourly
rate paid to childcare providers.
We recognise the need to support an environment where the sector
is able to thrive and grow if we are to deliver our ambitions set
out in our Early Childhood, Play, Learning and Care
Plan. Taking into account the views of the sector, we
will move to annual reviews following the completion of the
current three-year review. This approach will support the sector
with planning and improve sustainability.
This, taken together with our decision to make 100% rates relief for childcare
providers permanent demonstrates our ongoing support for the
sector.
I will provide further details about the outcome of the current
three-year rates review following publication of the Draft Budget
2025-26
