In a recent report, Robin Lloyd, a nurse from Monmouthshire, detailed her decision to relocate to Gloucestershire for better access to childcare support. The couple moved to enable their one-year-old to benefit from funded childcare starting at nine months, a service unavailable in Wales for younger children. Currently, Wales is expanding free childcare for two-year-olds, particularly in disadvantaged areas, but lacks support for infants.
The Welsh government emphasizes that its childcare programs are sustainable and focus on more disadvantaged communities. However, concerns have been raised regarding the effectiveness of these programs in comparison to childcare offerings in England. Since September, working parents in England can access 30 hours of free childcare each week for children aged nine months to four years, although there are worries about availability and costs of additional hours.
Lloyd expressed that the financial burden of childcare in Wales was substantial, sometimes equating to double her mortgage. Despite the costs associated with moving, including solicitors’ fees and stamp duty totaling £15,000, she found it more feasible to relocate rather than pay for high childcare costs in Wales.
Meanwhile, the Flying Start initiative in Wales aims to provide 12.5 hours of free childcare per week for two- to three-year-olds, targeting areas in need. By the end of 2024-25, the program is expected to reach about 52% of two-year-olds in Wales. Despite these efforts, it has been noted that not all regions benefit from such programs, leading to disparities in childcare access.
Local councils like those in Merthyr Tydfil claim that all early years providers can accommodate Flying Start placements. However, some regions still lack sufficient offerings. As the situation evolves, there is ongoing discussion among political parties regarding future childcare policies, with several proposing expanded services leading up to 2031.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2lpnr8n8rpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss