- Welsh Government aims to deliver 20 hours of funded childcare
per week for all children aged 9 months to 4 years
- Offer in first four years of a child's life to be most
generous in UK
- Welsh language childcare to be expanded
The First Minister and the Deputy First Minister of Wales have
visited an integrated children's centre in Merthyr Tydfil today,
highlighting the Welsh Government's ambition to expand funded
childcare for children across Wales.
and Sioned met staff, children and parents at
Cwm Golau Integrated Children's Centre in Pentrebach, in their
first visit as leaders of the Welsh Government.
Over this Senedd term, the Welsh Government plans to phase in 20
hours of funded childcare per week, 48 weeks a year, for all
children aged 9 months to 4.
Welsh language provision will also be expanded, giving every
child a fair opportunity to learn and enjoy Cymraeg.
The First Minister said:
“Childcare costs in Wales are among the highest in the UK. We
want to put money back into families' pockets and support parents
back into work.
“Our ambitious and transformational childcare offer will be the
most generous in the history of devolution, and the most generous
in the UK, helping boost household incomes, lift families out of
poverty and give children the best start in life.”
The Deputy First Minister, whose remit includes childcare policy,
added:
“Thousands of parents in Wales are working solely to cover the
cost of childcare, and many cannot afford it at all. This needs
to change.
“Access to affordable childcare unlocks opportunities and gives
parents, especially mothers, the freedom to return to work,
education or training. And most importantly, our expanded offer
of high-quality childcare will give every child the head-start
they need to thrive.”
