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The Welsh Government has announced that it is moving closer to a universal childcare system with all 22 local authorities on track to offer 12.5 hours a week of funded childcare for all two-year-olds by the end of March 2027. This expansion will be a significant milestone in the Welsh Government’s journey towards a universal childcare offer for children aged nine months to four years.
At the start of this Senedd term in May, only three local authorities were delivering Welsh Government-funded childcare to all two-year-olds. The expansion will help more families access affordable childcare, support parents and carers to work or train, and ensure more children benefit from high-quality early years experiences.
Future phases of the expansion of the childcare offer will focus on:
- increasing support for two-year-olds to 20 funded hours a week for 48 weeks, and working with childcare providers to extend the expanded offer to all three- and four-year-olds
- building on these offers before extending support to children aged nine months to two years.
Deputy First Minister, Sioned Williams, said:
‘Childcare support for families is one of the key levers we have to address poverty, gender inequality, support our economy and improve educational outcomes. This is excellent news for all families and a real testament to the commitment local authorities have shown in driving this expansion forward … Access to high-quality early years education and care can have a profound impact on a child’s development and life chances, while giving parents practical support during the important first years of family life.’