Five-year plan to increase childcare provision in Ceredigion

Cabinet member for schools, lifelong learning and skills Cllr Wyn Thomas said a childcare sufficiency assessment had a shown there was a need to “increase the capacity of current providers” as well as encourage more people – especially Welsh speakers – to take on childcare work.

There were many reasons for the reduction in childcare spaces of 375 since the highest available in 2017 of 1,945 to 1,570 in 2022 – this is with 91 childcare providers -  and there is “not sufficient child care to meet the needs and in some areas families are having difficulty accessing provision,” he said.

This includes after school and holiday provision as well as private nursery and Clych Meithrin services, with Flying Start to also be expanded to two years olds from September.

“Accessible high quality and affordable childcare is essential for families as it enables parents to access education, training or employment opportunities.cEnsuring sufficient childcare is important to the economy of Ceredigion as it enables parents to be economically active,” states a report to cabinet.

Steps to be taken include monitoring places, and any reasons for decline, investigating increasing capacity at existing provers, aim for wraparound provision at all schools, development of full-day care provision in mid and south of the county with start up grants available as well as other possibilities to be explored.

Cost and location of childcare “are the biggest barriers for parents” cabinet heard and there is still a high reliance on using family and friends.

A report to cabinet adds that “providers are reporting that they are finding it difficult to recruit staff that have the appropriate qualifications and are able to converse in the medium of Welsh in order to be able to work in a childcare setting.”

The draft of the assessment was submitted to Welsh Government last month following a public consultation, that has informed the five year action plan.