Is Powys ready for 30-hour free childcare?

A new Government initiative that could save some parents thousands of pounds in childcare is due to be rolled out in the Welshpool area later this month, but questions have been raised as to whether the county is ready.

At Thursday’s full Powys County Council (PCC) meeting, Labour group leader, Cllr Mathew Dorrance will ask: “The Welsh Labour Government is committed to providing 30 hours a week of government-funded early education and childcare for working parents of three and four years old, for up to 48 weeks of the year.

“Will the cabinet make a statement on its preparation for the roll out of the Welsh Government’s funded childcare offer?”

Education portfolio holder, Cllr Myfanwy Alexander, said: “The aim of providing 30 hours a week of early education and childcare for working parents of three and four year olds for up to 48 weeks of the year by the end of the current Welsh Assembly is undoubtedly, one that will be popular with eligible families.

“As an authority we are working very closely with Welsh Government officials and neighbouring authorities on roll-out plans to ensure access to provision in all parts of the county.

“However, professional advice is that there remain clear and significant roll out challenges to overcome.

“They principally include the adequacy of resourcing, but also include practical administrative arrangements.

“These are of no surprise to the partners we ae working with and we will continue to work with them to secure solutions to the benefit of local communities.”

According to the Welsh Government website, PCC has started rolling out the 30-hour provision in Ystradgynlais, Upper Swansea Valley and Gwernyfed. Implementation across the rest of the county is supposed to start on April 1.

Across Wales, 16 county councils have already implemented the provision across the whole of their authorities.

Swansea City Council and Neath Port Talbot have the scheme running in many parts of their authorities, while Bridgend, Pembrokeshire and Vale of Glamorgan will also start on April 1.

Currently, working parents have only 12.5 hours of free childcare a week which can only be used for 2.5 hours a day and not including school holidays, preventing many parents from being able to even take on a part-time job.