Laura Anne Jones – the Shadow Minister for Equalities, Children and Young People – has welcomed the announcement today (August 4) that the childcare offer of 30 hours of early education and care to the working parents of 3 and 4 year olds will be re-instated.
The Welsh Labour-led Government suspended new applications for the funding in April.
Miss Jones said:
“The suspension of applications caused a great deal of anxiety for hard-working parents and families concerned that they would not be able to access this vital service as lockdown eases in Wales, allowing them back into work.
“This anxiety will have been worsened because of the short notice between the announcement and when the offer restarts.
“However, the effect on parents has been echoed by the effect on childcare providers, and the parents’ employers, who have similarly been left in limbo since the suspension of the offer. It’s bad for the Welsh economy left reeling after the pandemic, and suggests a government here that does not understand working parents’ needs.”
Details on the timing and how to apply will be available on local authority websites and through Family Information Services.