Newport extends childcare support but will new Welsh Government backtrack on promise?
Plaid Cymru made a number of big policy commitments in their election manifesto relating to children including a significant extension of universal childcare support well beyond the policy in place across the border in England by the UK Government. Prior to the election the previous Welsh Government was gradually rolling out support to two year old’s bringing Wales into line with England. In practice is the Plaid Cymru proposal practical and affordable?
Previously, families qualified for the support if they lived in certain parts of the city. The free childcare is available from the term after the child’s second birthday until the term the child reaches their third birthday.
Councillor Deb Davies, cabinet member for education and early years, said: “I’m really pleased that parents and carers across the whole city can now be offered free childcare for up to two and half hours a day. It means families no longer need to live in a certain postcode to qualify and as well as the support it gives them, the children will also benefit.”
When a child turns three, their parents or carers in Newport could then be eligible for up to 30 hours of free childcare per week through the Welsh Government’s Childcare Offer for Wales. Parents and carers with children in private childcare can apply for the funding if their childcare setting is registered with Flying Start. Childcare settings who are not currently registered can apply to join the programme.
IS PLAID CYMRU’S COMMITMENT UNFUNDED?
The Plaid Cymru manifesto stated “A Plaid Cymru government will deliver a transformational and universal new childcare offer for children from the age of 9 months to 4 years – putting money back into families’ pockets, supporting parents back into work, and providing the best start for every child, regardless of their background.
By the time our new offer is fully rolled out, every child aged 9 months to 4 years will be entitled to 20 hours of free childcare every week, for 48 weeks a year. And for those children aged 3 and 4 whose parents are in work, education or training, we will honour the existing offer of 30 hours of funded childcare per week.”
The First Minister, Rhun ap Iorweth, stated this week it would happen very quickly. But Plaid does not have a majority and the policy will cost a considerable amount of money.
There is no reliable estimate of the cost of the scheme but the Party puts it at £400 million. If you take their estimation it will not be possible to implement without cuts to spending or an increase in taxation.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned “in the context of the severe fiscal pressures already highlighted, it would mean some combination of having to hold down growth in healthcare spending, deeper cuts to other spending or increases in devolved taxation. Plaid Cymru will therefore need to decide whether to make such choices, or to pare back their plans for childcare to ease trade-offs elsewhere. They could decide to restrict provision to families where all parents work, for example, which would be consistent with a focus on boosting labour supply. Or they could means-test provision, focusing funded support on lower-income families, which would be consistent with a greater focus on improving child development.”
Opposition parties have asked where the money will come from. In reality there is little likelihood this policy will happen and that the new Welsh Government will end up introducing a similar policy to the UK Government in England where the childcare offer is in advance of Wales and is extended to all two year old children. Fortunately, Newport is ahead of the game and is already delivering this policy that will help so many parents.