New Welsh Government has ambitious childcare plans
Wales has voted in a new First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth who has announced his new cabinet.
His Deputy First Minister, Sioned Williams, will also have the brief for delivering Plaid Cymru’s childcare expansion plans. Their manifesto stated:
“…a transformational and universal new childcare offer for children from the age of 9 months to 4 years – putting money back into families’ pockets, supporting parents back into work, and providing the best start for every child, regardless of their background.”
NDNA Cymru will be working closely with Cwlwm partners in the government’s stakeholder reference group on delivery of any new proposals.
Tim McLachlan, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Cymru said:
“We welcome the new First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth and Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams to the Senedd and look forward to working with them on their ambitious expansion plans for childcare over the coming months and years.
“Within Plaid Cymru’s historic first cabinet, Deputy First Minister Williams will have the responsibility for childcare. She will have her work cut out because, as evidenced in our recent poll and pre-election manifesto, the money that nurseries receive for delivering government-funded sessions leaves significant numbers of nurseries making a loss on each place.
“Although the funding rate for the Childcare Offer for Wales was increased this year to £6.67 per hour per child, this has not kept pace with rising costs. In particular our nurseries tell us that their staffing bill has increased by 10.5% on average – but they have only put up their fees to parents by an average of 7.5% because families are also struggling with the cost of living. This has left 92% expecting to make a loss or break even this year.
“We are calling on this new Government to conduct a national review into funded childcare, work with NDNA Cymru and the sector to co-create and implement a progressive system which benefits all children and is deliverable by providers and develop a fully-funded workforce strategy. I have written to the Deputy First Minister and look forward to meeting with her soon and working with her and the Government on their first 100 days commitment and childcare taskforce.”
Read more about our manifesto here.
You can find out more about the new ministerial team here.
You can read the Plaid Cymru manifesto here.
- early years
- Government
- Wales
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