THERE are no plans to provide financial support to parents of children under the age of two in Wales councillors have been told.
The cost of childcare was raised by Councillor Lisa Dymock at Monmouthshire County Council’s March meeting who said her Portskewett ward has seen an increase in young families but she is concerned at the cost of childcare.
The Conservative said the previous UK Conservative government had expanded childcare in England to include children from nine months old and wanted to know what discussions the council has had with the Welsh Government about a similar offer.
But Cllr Martyn Groucutt, the council’s Labour cabinet member for education, said it isn’t aware of any plans to provide financial support below the age of two.
He said the Welsh Government is rolling out Flying Start that provides 12 and a half hours free childcare per week during term times from the term following a child’s second birthday until the term following their third.
Cllr Groucutt said the roll out has been slower than originally hoped and it is “likely to be a few more years until it is fully rolled out.”
He added deprivation data is used to priorities the support as elements of family finances are linked to the scheme.
Following their third birthday all children are entitled to a minimum of 10 hours a week during term time at a school nursery or the council’s approved early education centres. If both parents are eligible by being in work, and earning at least the equivalent of the minimum wage for 16 hours a week, or in training, they can apply for an additional 20 hours a week during term time and 30 hours for nine weeks of the school holidays.
The childcare rate will increase to £6 an hour from April.
