Our views on how childcare in Wales tackles disadvantage

The Bevan Foundation warns that significant issues remain with the Welsh childcare system, in particular with regards to how it works to tackle poverty and inequality.

As part of an inquiry into childcare in Wales, the Senedd’s Equality and Social Justice Committee has asked people for their views. The paper asks a range of questions including views on the progress that has been made so far, the extent to which current provision addresses inequality, and lessons to be learned from other parts of the UK and internationally.

The Bevan Foundation’s response focuses on how childcare in Wales can be improved to better reduce child poverty, drawing on their recent report with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. In particular, the actions that can be taken in Wales with regards to the five principles that underpin a childcare system that tackles disadvantage: being affordable, quality, accessed, family-focused and integrated.

The Foundation’s response also says:

• There is a need to strike a better balance between providing children with early education, supporting parents to return to work, and ensuring that parents are provided with choice about what sort of provision works best for them.
• A radical new childcare offer should be introduced to provide funded, good quality, part-time care for all children aged 0 to 4.
• The Welsh Government’s funded childcare programmes should be reformed to ensure that all Welsh communities can access childcare
• A plan should be developed for a fully integrated childcare system which brings together all three Welsh Government funded childcare programmes.
• Childcare reforms in England could have a significant impact on Welsh families
• A review of childcare funding in Wales should be undertaken to ensure a sustainable funding model for a future childcare policy.

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