- Expert group meets for the first time to help shape expansion
of funded childcare for children aged nine months to four years
in Wales.
- The group will focus on workforce planning, improving access
and simplifying systems.
- Establishing the group was a First 100 Days commitment and it
will work alongside a Welsh Government childcare taskforce to
support the phased rollout.
An expert group who will help to shape, support and advise on
delivering the expanded childcare offer in Wales, have met for
the first time today.
The Deputy First Minister - Sioned - chaired the inaugural meeting of
the Expansion of Childcare Expert Steering Group.
Members are drawn from bodies representing childcare providers,
the workforce, social care, local authorities and an economist.
The Welsh Government has committed to expanding childcare for
children aged nine months to four years over this Senedd term.
Establishing the group was a First 100 Days commitment.
At the meeting, members agreed how the group will work together
and set out their priorities for the months ahead.
The group's priorities include workforce planning, improving
access, and simplifying systems to ensure the expanded offer
reaches families across Wales at pace.
The Expert Steering Group will operate alongside a Welsh
Government childcare taskforce focused on implementation, drawing
on the group's strategic expertise.
Deputy First Minister and chair of the expert group,
Sioned said:
"It was a pleasure to chair the first meeting of the Expert
Steering Group as we progress this transformational childcare
offer.
Expanding access to high-quality childcare will make a real
difference for families and is a key priority for this
government.
As part of our First 100 Days commitments, we have hit the ground
running by establishing the Expert Steering Group and the Welsh
Government taskforce - a commitment we are proud to have
delivered. The Expert Group will provide strategic advice
and practical insight to help shape the phased expansion of
funded childcare, and I look forward to working closely with them
to deliver real change for families across Wales."
Cwlwm representative and Chief Executive of Mudiad
Meithrin, Catrin Edwards said:
The work of the Childcare Expansion Expert Steering Group is an
important step towards delivering a truly ambitious offer. Our
focus is on ensuring the expansion works in practice delivered
effectively and sustainably on the ground. We want to support
building a system that lasts, so that children and families can
benefit fully, while also supporting the childcare sector and
workforce to grow and thrive.
Ultimately, this is about improving outcomes for children and
families, with a valuable opportunity to strengthen early access
to the Welsh language as part of the wider offer.
Members of the Expansion of Childcare Expert Steering
Group include:
Chair Sioned , Deputy First Minister
- Dr Su Min Lee London Economics
- Dr Lowri Vaughan Brown - Chief Education Officer, Association
of Directors of Education in Wales
- Sharon Davies - Welsh Local Government Association.
- Cwlwm David Goodger from Early Years Wales and Catrin Edwards
from Mudiad Meithrin.
- Gemma Halliday - Social Care Wales
