Our response to the Equality and Social Justice Committee inquiry into childcare and parental employment in Wales

The Bevan Foundation have submitted evidence to the Senedd’s Equality and Social Justice Committee for its inquiry – Childcare and parental employment: the pandemic and beyond

This autumn the Senedd’s Equality and Social Justice Committee called for written evidence as it began its inquiry into childcare and parental employment in Wales. The Bevan Foundation have submitted a response that looked at a variety of issues relating to the way that childcare is currently provided in Wales and its impact on parental employment. Among the issues considered in our response are:

• The lack of state supported childcare for parents of children under 3 and the prohibitive cost of private childcare 
• Issues with the eligibility criteria of the Welsh Government’s childcare offer that excludes many parents that work part time
• The lack of flexibility within childcare provision and the lack of wrap-around care

The Bevan Foundation has previously argued for a significant improvement in the provision of childcare. Our proposal envisaged the following arrangements:

• Free high quality part-time (e.g. 15-16 hours p.w.) childcare for all children whose parents want it irrespective of the parents’ work status.
• Free provision to be available from the end of Statutory Maternity Pay (39 weeks from birth) to the start of full-time school.
• Affordable additional hours of care for 0 – 4 year olds.
• Affordable wrap-around care available for children aged 5 – 14 for all children whose parents want it, irrespective of work status.
• Free part-time care (e.g. 15-16 hours p.w.) in the school holidays for all children whose parents want it, with affordable additional hours of care available.

Format: PDF

Language: English

Pages: 5

Cost: Free

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