Pilot Areas Confirmed For Welsh Government Free Childcare Offer

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has today received confirmation from Carl Sergeant, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children, that the Welsh Government’s 30 hour, 48-week childcare offer will be piloted in the Ferndale, Mountain Ash, Bryn Celynnog and Rhydywaun clusters. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rhondda Cynon Taf was selected as an early implementer of the offer which will see 30 hours free childcare a week provided for working parents of 3- and 4-year-olds, 48 weeks of the year. To be eligible for this pilot offer, Welsh Government have determined that both parents (or parent if lone parent family) must work for 16 hours or more per week at national minimum wage. An upper annual income threshold is yet to be decided. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Director of Education, Esther Thomas, said: “The Council is pleased to have received confirmation from Welsh Government that our proposal to pilot the free childcare offer in four clusters has been agreed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The four cluster areas of Mountain Ash, Bryn Celynnog, Ferndale and Rhydywaun were chosen as the most appropriate to fully test the offer in line with criteria set by Welsh Government, including piloting welsh language provision. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Council will now ensure the pilot is ready to begin in September 2017.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​