Working parents set to receive help with their childcare costs
Poster information
Posted on: Wednesday 30 January 2019
The dilemma of juggling childcare needs around work commitments during school holidays is set to become easier for some parents in Bridgend County Borough later this year.
The Welsh Government’s new Childcare Offer scheme, which provides financial support towards childcare for working parents, is being introduced locally after being piloted elsewhere in Wales.
The scheme offers 30 hours a week of funded childcare and early education for up to 48 weeks of the year. It will be available to eligible working parents from the term after a child’s third birthday until the September following their fourth birthday.
As children can start school from three-years-old in Bridgend County Borough, the biggest benefit to local parents may be the fact that the offer also extends to childcare during nine weeks of school holidays.
Any formal childcare provider that parents use has to be registered with the Care Inspectorate Wales.
This new scheme has been very well received in other parts of Wales so we’re looking forward to it being introduced here later this year.
Because we are already very generous with our Foundation Phase Nursery provision which entitles children to either a part-time or full-time nursery place in school after they turn three-years-old, the main advantage that most parents will notice here will be the funded provision during school holidays. That will make a big difference for many families.
Parents participating in the scheme in other counties have reported that it has given them more flexibility with their work-based decisions as well as more disposable income. Many parents spend a lot of time worrying about childcare issues so hopefully this new scheme will help to make life a bit easier and reduce that stress.
Councillor Dhanisha Patel, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Future Generations
A starting date for the new childcare offer in Bridgend County Borough will be publicised soon. For further details, please email childcareoffer@bridgend.gov.uk