The UK Government started offering up to 15 hours of free childcare for parents of 2-year-olds in England from September last year. From September 2025, parents of children under the age 5 will be entitled to up to 30 hours of free childcare. As a result of the increased spending in England, the Welsh Government received additional funding through the Barnett Formula for childcare but decided against provision of free childcare to parents of 2-year-olds, contrary to the recommendations of the Equality and Social Justice Committee.
The Welsh Government offers some limited support to parents of two-year-olds through the Flying Start scheme, but this is not available to the vast majority of parents in Wales.
Member of the Senedd for the Vale of Clwyd, Gareth Davies MS raised this in the chamber with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office, Rebecca Evans. Gareth claimed that the cost of childcare being one of the highest in Europe is debilitating for many parents who give up work in order to care for their young children, he went on to argue that the Welsh Government should provide the same free childcare offer than parents in England are entitled to.
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office responded by saying:
“In terms of our roll-out of our programme here in Wales, we're very much focusing resources on our most disadvantaged communities in the first instance, ensuring that that support reaches the families who are in greatest need at the earliest opportunity. Ultimately, our ambition is for Flying Start childcare services to be available for all two-year-olds in Wales, and we're working with the sector to build capacity to deliver that.”
Following the exchange, Gareth said:
“The cost of placing a child in a nursery is more than the average monthly mortgage payment so I am disappointed that the Welsh Government has refused to offer free childcare for two-year-olds which is available to parents in England.
“This puts parents in Wales at a disadvantage and is forcing people to give up work as they can’t afford to put their children into nursery full-time.
“The Welsh Government needs to adopt the recommendations of the Equality and Social Justice committee and offer the same free childcare provision that parents in England have a right to.”
