An effective childcare system can tackle disadvantage and move people out of poverty.

Finding good quality, affordable, childcare has long been a challenge for families across Wales. With reforms on the horizon however, could a system that more effectively addresses poverty and disadvantage be put into place? Building on the recent work of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Coram, this project will provide an analysis of the current childcare system in Wales and explore opportunities for reform.

Aims

• To explore how effectively the current childcare system in Wales tackles disadvantage and moves people out of poverty.
• To explore whether the proposed reforms to the childcare system could deliver a childcare system that more effectively addresses poverty and disadvantage in Wales. 
• To explore how the ideas set out by the JRF and Coram in their recent work on childcare and disadvantage in England could apply in Wales.
• To explore options for reform to ensure that the childcare system in Wales does tackle disadvantage and moves people out of poverty. 

What we’re doing

We will develop our understanding of how successfully the childcare system in Wales addresses poverty and disadvantage by using a mix of desk-based analysis of statistics and policy documents and conversations with key stakeholders within the sector. 

Key outputs

On January 31 we published a report outlining our key findings at the Senedd. The report can be accessed in English and in Welsh: 

Tackling disadvantage through childcare in Wales

Taclo anfantais trwy ofal plant yng Nghymru

Outcomes

Our work has already been mentioned in the Senedd and we are hoping to work with partners over the coming months to take forward some of our proposed solutions. 

Funder

This project is funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation as part of our work on solving poverty in Wales

Duration

September 2023 to date