Free childcare should be more available and less complicated, says a Senedd report.
Working parents of children aged three and four currently receive up to 30 hours per week as part of the childcare offer.
It will be extended to two-year-olds from September as part of the Labor and Plaid Cymru cooperation agreement.
But a mother from Cardiff told BBC Wales she couldn’t afford to go back to full-time work because of the cost of childcare.
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Cardiff-based Alice, who works in hospitality, said childcare costs for her 16-month-old son Teddy are preventing her from returning to full-time work.
“I couldn’t afford to go full-time again because I couldn’t afford a full-time kindergarten, so it’s a big deal for us if we also have rent and utility bills — and they’re getting up,” said she.
“I had to look at my finances and decide if it was worth it for me to go back to work because after childcare and transportation, I’m essentially getting away with no money.”
The Women’s Equality Network Wales, which calls for childcare to start from as young as six months of age, says current provision is “hampered” by a lack of under-threes services, limited availability and inconsistencies across Wales.
Under planned changes, the free childcare service will be extended to two-year-olds from September.
The first phase will increase the number of funded places in some of Wales’s most disadvantaged areas, before rolling out the scheme across the country.
- Since 2008, local authorities have offered at least 10 hours of free basic kindergarten classes per week from the age of three until entry into full-time school
- Many working parents are entitled to an additional 20 hours per week of free childcare for three- and four-year-olds for 48 weeks per year as part of the childcare service
- The Flying Start program offers children in disadvantaged areas from the age of 2 to the age of 3 free child care for 12.5 hours per week
A report by the Senedd Committee on Equality and Social Justice calls for additional support to be further expanded in areas where the Flying Start program is used.
The report, due to be debated in the Senedd on Wednesday, outlines “different features” in the current provision and says the system is “complex”.
It adds that while parents are aware of the childcare offering, “many don’t fully understand it”.
The comprehensive report also looked at barriers that prevent parents, particularly women, from returning to work, which in turn reduces their earning potential.
A total of 18 recommendations were made, including:
- Research and build an evidence base on ethnic minority representation in childcare and set targets to increase the number of ethnic minority workers in the sector
- Improving cultural awareness for all childcare workers
- Improving wages and working conditions for childcare workers
- More details on plans for universal after school care including after school clubs
- Ensure free childcare is available for children with complex and additional needs aged two and over
- Make childcare easier for parents with irregular hours and zero-hour contracts
- Review and reduce the eligibility of any parent earning up to £100,000 a year
The Welsh Government has accepted most of the recommendations.
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