Free childcare in Wales: 3,000 two-year-olds to get places

An additional 3,000 free childcare places will be created for two-year-olds from April, the Welsh Government has announced.

The money for these additional places in the Flying Start program will be funded as part of £100m pledged by the Welsh Government to improve availability.

It is not yet known which areas will benefit and eligible families will be contacted in the new year.

Welsh Conservatives said wealthier families would benefit “while the most disadvantaged lose”.

Of the remaining cash funds, £70m will be spent on improving childcare facilities and £3.8m on improving Welsh language provision.

The investment is part of a phased plan to extend early childhood care to all two-year-olds in Wales, with a particular focus on strengthening Welsh mid-care, which is a commitment in the Cooperation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.

In April, the Welsh Government announced up to 2,500 more children would be eligible with the expansion of Flying Start slots that began earlier this month.

Phase two, starting in April, will see a further 3,000 two-year-olds eligible, with £11.6m allocated for 2023-24 and £14.3m for 2024-25.

The 3,000 places mean that each child has 12.5 hours per week during school hours. The offer is not means-tested and can be either inside or outside of an existing Flying Start area.

Ceri Bailey of Abergele, Conwy County, whose three children all received a Welsh nursery education through Flying Start, said it would not have been possible without financial support.

“Places like this are vital,” she said. “It really gives them a flying start.”

Nerys Sandland, co-director of Cylch Meithrin nursery school in Abergele, said the children had received an “excellent initial Welsh language education”.

Discussing the Welsh Government’s move to increase access to the Flying Start scheme, she added: “They should have done this a long time ago.

“We know kids who can’t come here because their parents can’t afford to bring them and they don’t live in the Flying Start zip code area.

“The sooner we have more zip codes, the more children can benefit from free education.”

The Welsh Government said local authorities are considering which areas to include in the next phase, with eligible families to be contacted in the new year.

“It is clear that quality early childhood care supports child development and plays an important role in ensuring that every child has the best start in life and enjoys learning, expanding their knowledge and fulfilling their potential,” said Julie, Deputy Minister for Social Affairs morgan.

Welsh Conservative Services spokesman Gareth Davies welcomed more funding for childcare but claimed a further £100m could be made available if Labor and Plaid did not have a separate pledge to enlarge the Senedd.

Mr Davies added: “Furthermore, it appears that Labor and Plaid have driven implementation by expanding supply by helping Flying Start providers expand their reach rather than through a voucher scheme for these universal credit families.

“I hope the minister will give this some thought and make the necessary changes to end the postcode lottery, where wealthy families benefit from the scheme while the most disadvantaged lose.”

Sian Gwenllian, a member of Plaid Cymru’s Senedd (MS), said children “learn and benefit so much from quality childcare services”.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Welsh Government to fulfill this important commitment for all of our communities,” she said.

Funding for facility improvements and maintenance is available to registered childcare facilities through local authorities in Wales.