This week in the Senedd, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on the Welsh Labour government to establish a permanent Childcare Allowance to help support parents and children across Wales.
Currently during the first two years of a child’s life, there are no state funded hours and limited financial support. Prompting many to refer to this issue as “The Care Cap” due to the lack of provisions available to parents and guardians.
The party is also proposing a Welsh Child Care Allowance, piloting direct cash payments to a cohort of parents of children from 9 months to school age over 3 years to assess the impact on parental choice, child development, household income, and the impact on providers.
Commenting, Jane Dodds MS said:
“Across Wales many families are being faced with deciding between paying an extortionate amount for childcare or leaving work to look after their children.
Welsh parents face some of the highest childcare costs in the world, worsened by the cost-of-living crisis and “the care gap.”
The first two years of a child’s life are extremely important. It is in these formative years that the brain grows rapidly, establishing the foundation for lifelong learning, health, and well-being.
That is why it is vital that we resolve this gap by providing free childcare for 0–2-year-olds in Wales.”
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