WIREDGOV

The Policy Statement outlines the Welsh Assembly Government’s priorities and ambitions for improving childcare across Wales.  

Huw Lewis said:

“The Assembly Government has a long standing commitment to promoting childcare in Wales and the Childcare Policy Statement I am launching today builds on this.  It identifies three key strategic priorities – quality, affordability and access – delivering on these priorities will help us to develop an integrated approach to childcare that meets the needs of children and also supports parents bringing benefits to all.

“Evidence shows that employment, particularly full time employment, protects against poverty.  Childcare is a vital building block to ensuring that parents are able to access employment opportunities.

“The quality of childcare provision in Wales is also important to tackling child poverty.  Childcare has a fundamental role to play in promoting children’s well-being, reducing inequalities in health and educational attainment, enhancing the future employability of children, and reducing income poverty in the longer term.  

“Childcare is not just somewhere to go while parents are working; it is also about improving outcomes for children, particularly those living in low income families. That is why ensuring the availability of accessible, affordable and high quality childcare is a priority in our new Child Poverty Strategy for Wales.

“Workforce is also key to quality childcare.  We want to encourage more people into the childcare sector with qualifications that lead to employment.  We also want to promote ongoing opportunities and provide chances to continue professional development and update and up-skill the workforce.

“It is essential that we work to raise the profile of the childcare sector and to raise the status of its profession.

“There are many challenges that lie ahead of us and now more than ever we need to ensure that our children have the best possible start in life and are not disadvantaged by poverty.  

“We must remember that the child comes first in childcare and that we continue to strive to give each child a flying start in life.”