MS, Minister for Mental
Health and Early Years: The Welsh Government's ambition to
develop and support a skilled childcare and play workforce that
is regarded as a career of choice, is set out in our 10-year
Childcare, Play and Early Years workforce plan. The plan
also recognises that the childcare sector in Wales is crucial in
enabling parents to work and train and is key to the social and
economic development of Wales. We are committed to ensuring a
range of high-quality childcare options are available to families
and children.
Childminders play an important part in supporting this commitment
offering professional, high-quality, home-from-home childcare and
learning and development support for a range of ages working
closely with parents to respond to different needs.
In recent years, the number of registered childminders has
declined sharply. In response to this, we commissioned
an Independent Review to
understand the reasons for this and what might be done to
support retention and growth in the number of childminders in
Wales. The review made a number of recommendations aimed at
addressing the challenges that push some childminders out of the
sector and deter others from entering it.
National Childminding Week provides us with an opportunity to
celebrate and showcase childminding and its importance within the
childcare sector in Wales. It also provides us with an
opportunity to update Members about the work we are undertaking,
with partners, to respond to the independent review's
recommendations.
A review of the childminding online application process for new
applicants will be undertaken to ensure a smooth process. To
support new childminders to access a wealth of key information, a
one stop resource will be developed to act as a central point for
childminders to access information about what advice, support and
funding is available to support entry into childminding.
To support childminders run their settings, guidance will be
developed to help childminders understand and draft the policies
they need to minimise administrative burden. Guidance is also to
be developed outlining what to expect from inspections to allay
childminder concerns in this area.
The Planning and Childcare in Wales Policy Clarification
Letter will be updated and re-issued to assist with planning
applications which could enable childminders to expand the
capacity of their provision. Work to raise awareness of business
support available to support childminders will also take
place.
Local authorities (working with PACEY Cymru) will be encouraged
to facilitate cluster or network meetings for new and established
childminders. Engagement will also take place with childminders
to ensure the delivery of training is best suited to their
needs.
Alongside this, we will continue to collect data relating to
childminder registrations and cancellations of registrations
annually so that we may see if our actions are making a
difference.
Work is already underway on a number of actions. I will be
monitoring this work closely and will keep Members informed about
progress.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all partners
working with us to deliver these actions to support retention and
growth in the number of childminders in Wales.
