Childcare Offer for Wales funding rate rising by 4%
The Welsh Government has announced an increase to the Childcare Offer for Wales funding rate which will rise from £6.40 to £6.67 from 6 April 2026.
This is an increase of 4.18% according to the announcement, which also confirms the same percentage uplift to the maximum amount providers can charge parents for meals. This means nurseries will be able to charge parents £11.25 (up from £10.80) per day.
NDNA has been urging the Welsh Government to review and increase the funding rate in line with rising costs for some weeks but it has finally been announced with just days left before it is implemented.
Tim McLachlan, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Cymru said:
“NDNA welcomes the rise in the Childcare Offer for Wales rate announced by the Welsh Government in response to our continue lobbying.
“However, this announcement comes too late and so providers have had no time to plan for the financial year ahead. They have had to give notice to parents already how much their fees will rise in the absence of any knowledge of the funding rate per hour per child.
“We are concerned that the uplift will not be enough to cover the above-inflation rises already seen or expected including food, energy and statutory minimum wage increases of 4% to 8%.
“Nurseries across Wales should not have to worry about their sustainability in delivering Government-funded places when they just want to focus on giving the best start to every child.”
Dawn Bowden MS, Minister for Children and Social Care wrote:
“The Welsh Government will continue to work closely with the childcare sector plus stakeholder representatives to explore long-term, systemic ways in which we can support the sustainability of the sector and encourage its continued development within the framework of funded childcare programmes.”
Read the full announcement here: https://www.gov.wales/written-statement-childcare-offer-rate-review
Minimum wages rise between 4.1% and 8% depending on age bracket https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/minimum-wage-rates-for-2026
- Wales
- Childcare Offer
- early education
- early years
- Funding Rates
- NDNA
- nurseries
- Wales
- Welsh Government
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