New Welsh Government plan to develop Wales’ childcare workforce

The Welsh Government has unveiled a new ten-year plan to grow and develop a highly-skilled childcare workforce to support its plans to deliver free childcare for three to four-year-olds in Wales.

The Welsh Government wants to provide 30 hours a week of government-funded early education and childcare for working parents for up to 48 weeks a year.

The Childcare, Play and Early Years workforce plan sets out the Welsh Government’s vision for delivering this commitment, by developing and professionalising the childcare and play workforce.

Huw Irranca-Davies AM, the Minister for Children and Social Care, launched the new plan at the Mini Miners Nursery in Ystrad Mynach.

He said: “The provision of affordable, accessible, quality early years provision, available at the times parents need it, plays an essential role in boosting the economy, helping parents to return to work and creating further employment opportunities within the childcare sector itself.

“Those who care for our youngest children play a vital role in helping us give our children a flying start in life. High-quality early education and childcare produces greater long-term benefits for our children and strongly influences their future life chances.

“Where the workforce is equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to provide high-quality childcare and play, the effects on children can be profound, with particular benefits for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, or children who are disabled or have additional learning needs.

“The plan I’m unveiling today recognises the challenges the current economic climate presents to the sector and sets out clear and tangible actions to prioritise support to build the capability and capacity of the childcare workforce and the sector to drive our ambitions forward. It also sets out a longer term vision which is ambitious, but also essential if we want to enhance the quality of care we offer our children and to fully realise the potential of this committed sector and its workforce.”