Labour pledges to increase childcare for under 5's

Carwyn Jones Credit: welshlabour.org.uk

Labour are campaigning on childcare today with a commitment from Welsh Labour to double early years and childcare provision for working parents for 3-4 year olds.

Speaking at a Flying Start centre in Pembrokeshire First Minister, Carwyn Jones, said the number of children benefitting from Flying Start provision under Labour in Wales had increased from 18,000 to 33,000 contrasting with cuts by the Tories to Sure Start in England which has seen 720 centres close and the loss of 40,000 childcare places.

You can see the full report here:

The Welsh Labour leader pledged to introduce ten extra hours of free childcare for working parents if Labour wins May’s General Election.

The pledge details:

  • Double the number of hours early years education or childcare currently available to households where all parents are in work.

  • The additional funding will be for 10 hours free childcare, and not early years education at Foundation Phase level.

  • Consultation with parents, schools and the childcare sector on how best to roll out the extra 10 hours provision to meet the challenges faced by working parents.

UKIP in Wales said the real problem was low wages: