The new funding, announced today (16 February), is part of a £46m Government investment to expand early years provision to all two-year-olds, with an emphasis on strengthening Welsh-medium provision under the Flying Start programme.
From April 2023, an additional 2,200 two-year olds in the most disadvantaged areas of Wales will be eligible for 12.5 hours of free childcare a week, over 39 weeks of the year.
The first phase of the programme began in September 2022, with Phase Two expected to support 4,500 more two-year-olds between 2023 and 2024 and a further 5,200 between 2024 to 2025. Local authorities will inform families who live in the new ‘target’ Flying Start areas, in March.
Deputy minister for social services Julie Morgan and Plaid Cymru designated member Siân Gwenllian, announced the funding at a visit to Mount Stuart Primary School, in Cardiff.
Morgan said, ‘Developing high quality support for children and families in the early years has been a long-standing priority for the Welsh Government.
‘This additional funding will make a considerable difference to the lives and outcomes of thousands of children and their families across Wales and offer opportunities for more children to access Welsh Medium provision.
‘High-quality learning and care in early years supports child development and plays an important role in supporting school readiness and addressing the attainment gap, particularly for children facing the greatest challenges.’
The children’s commissioner for Wales, Rocio Cifuentes, welcomed the extra funding and the focus on strengthening Welsh-language provision. But, she added, ‘What I want to see from the Welsh Government is this sort of individual intervention as part of a focused and ambitious child poverty action plan - one national plan that shows us what the government plans to do to tackle child poverty and alleviate its impact, with clear targets and timescales. Without this, it’s difficult for us to determine how effective the government’s interventions are collectively in alleviating the impact of poverty on children and their families.’
'Funding must be kept under regular review'
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), warned that the places must be sustainable for providers.
She said, 'The funding from Welsh Government must be kept under regular review to make sure it is covering the costs of delivering these places.'
