MS, Minister for Children and
Social Care: The Welsh
Government continues to support families with the costs of
childcare through a number of programmes across
Wales.
Our Childcare Offer for Wales enables eligible parents of three-
and four-year-olds to access up to 30 hours of government-funded
nursery education and childcare for children for 48 weeks a year
which includes holiday provision. The Offer also continues to be
available to parents in training and education.
Our flagship Flying Start programme, offers fully
funded, high-quality childcare to parents of all eligible
two-year-olds for two and a half hours a day, five days a week
for 39 weeks a year.
We are continuing to expand Flying Start childcare to support
long-term, positive impacts on the lives of those children and
families and we remain committed to reaching all two-year-olds
across Wales.
We recognise that our childcare offering in Wales relies on a
fair, sustainable support package for childcare providers. This
is why on 12 November 2024, we made 100% Small Business Rates
Relief for registered childcare premises permanent. This
underlines our support for childcare in Wales and our ongoing aim
for settings to be financially sustainable, as set out in
the review and
refresh of our 10-year Childcare, Play and Early Years
workforce plan.
We also recognise the need to support an environment where the
sector can thrive and grow if we are to deliver our ambitions set
out in our Early Childhood, Play, Learning and Care
Plan. This is why, on the 20 November, I confirmed
that we will move to annual
rate reviews following the completion of the current
three-year review. This approach will support the sector with
planning and improve sustainability. Any future uplifts will be
considered in line with Welsh Government budget wider
planning.
To continue supporting this sector, we are increasing the hourly
rate paid to childcare providers from £5.00 to £6.00 per hour.
This 20% increase will take effect from 7 April 2025 – the
first Monday of the new financial year. We will also be providing
additional funding to support the continued alignment of Nursery
Education and Flying Start childcare.
We have also reviewed the guidance for providers on permissible
food charges. We must carefully balance what is affordable for
the provider and affordable for parents whilst recognising
continued pressure in food, utility and energy prices. This is
why, from April 2025, the daily rate for food will increase from
£9.00 to £10.80. My Officials will continue to engage with
representative bodies across Wales to refine guidance around
permissible charges as part of the Childcare Offer to bring
greater clarity for parents and childcare providers.
This support package will help provide greater sustainability
across the childcare sector in Wales, ensuring parents can
continue to benefit from Welsh Government funded childcare and
ensure our policies to support children and their families align
so we can maximise effectiveness.
