Childcare

The Welsh Government's latest press releases and Cabinet statements on this brief.

1. Press release, 23 September 2026

   Making waves: swimming lessons for school children begin in Wales

   From this month, pupils across years 4 and 5 in Welsh maintained primary schools will begin to receive a minimum of 20 hours of swimming and water safety lessons, as part of a commitment by the new Welsh Government.

The latest headlines on this brief, linking to each outlet's story.

• Nursery gets major positive update 7 years after inspectors raised concerns

  South Wales Argus, 22 October 2026

• Wrexham man wins national award for bringing Christmas magic to nursery children

  Leader Live, 22 October 2026

Statements, debates and legislation in Plenary on this brief, newest first. Oral question sessions are counted in the contributions below.

1. 13 October 2026Legislation

   The Child Minding and Day Care Exceptions (Revocation and Transitional Provision) (Wales) (Amendment) Order 2026

   Opened by Sioned Williams4 contributions

2. 16 September 2026Debate

   Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board health visitor pay dispute

   Reform UK Debate

   Opened by Benjamin Hodge Mckenna15 contributions

3. 14 July 2026Statement

   Update on Early Years Childcare and Play

   Statement by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality

   Opened by Sioned Williams24 contributions

4. 10 June 2026Debate

   Childcare offer

   Reform UK Debate

   Opened by Dan Thomas32 contributions

Votes are tagged from their own titles and the agenda item they were held under.

Ministers' meetings with outside organisations and their engagements on this brief, from the register the Welsh Government publishes every three months. 6 since the 2026 election; the latest:

1. 5 August 2026

   Eisteddfod- Cwlwm, and Mudiad Meithrin are launching Cymraeg i Blant's 10 year anniversary party

   Meeting, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality

2. 15 July 2026

   Mudiad Meithrin

   Meeting, Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language

3. 14 July 2026

   Childcare workshop with LAs and providers

   Meeting, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality

4. 25 June 2026

   Childcare Expert Steering Group

   Meeting, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality

5. 16 June 2026

   Press Visit for Childcare Announcement Parc y Felin Integrated Children's Centre

   Meeting, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality

6. 20 May 2026

   Visit for Childcare Announcement at Cwm Golau Integrated Children's Centre

   Meeting, First Minister of Wales

Source: Welsh Government, ministerial meetings and engagements. The register is published three months or more after the meetings it lists.

Members whose entries in the Register of Members' Interests relate to this brief, matched by the brief's words and phrases. Members must register these interests, and having one doesn't mean anything improper.

• Louise Emery1 related entry

  • Membership/Chairmanship of bodies in receipt of direct or indirect Senedd Commission or Welsh Government funds: Member Name of organisation: School Lane Pre-school Role within organisation: Responsible Individual, Charitable trustee Additional information: Receives Welsh Government child…

• Carrie Harper1 related entry

  • Membership/Chairmanship of bodies in receipt of direct or indirect Senedd Commission or Welsh Government funds: Member Name of organisation: Cylch Meithrin Llan-y-Pwll Role within organisation: Responsible Individual

• Becca Martin1 related entry

  • Membership/Chairmanship of bodies in receipt of direct or indirect Senedd Commission or Welsh Government funds: Member Name of organisation: Cylch Meithrin a Ti a Fi Llan-y-pwll Role within organisation: Treasurer and trustee

The full register

29 written questions to the Welsh Government on this brief in the Seventh Senedd, 24 answered so far. The latest:

1. Darren MillarConservative20 October 2026

   Will funding that the Welsh Government provides to local authorities for the purposes of expanding childcare provision be ringfenced?

   To the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality. Awaiting an answer

2. Darren MillarConservative20 October 2026

   On how many occasions has the Cabinet Minister met with representatives of local authorities regarding commitments to expand childcare provision?

   To the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality. Awaiting an answer

3. Darren MillarConservative20 October 2026

   How is the Welsh Government monitoring the use of funds provided to local authorities for the purpose of expanding childcare provision?

   To the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality. Awaiting an answer

4. Darren MillarConservative20 October 2026

   What consideration has the Welsh Government given to the benefits of enabling parents to use childcare provision flexibly?

   To the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality. Awaiting an answer

5. Lindsay WhittlePlaid13 October 2026

   Further to WQ100206, when will the Welsh Government's free childcare offer for nine-month-olds be available in Caerphilly County Borough Council?

   To the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality. Awaiting an answer

All 29 written questions on this brief

7 petitions to the Senedd on this brief, open ones first, then by signatures:

1. Introduce the Natural History GCSE in Wales

   Open

   357 signatures

2. Consider flexibility in the funded 12.5-hour childcare scheme for all 2 year olds across Wales.

   Open

   291 signatures

3. Reform funded childcare in Wales to make it fair and accessible.

   Open

   107 signatures

4. Allow childcare companies to register with CIW, similar to Ofsted, to allow cheaper holiday clubs.

   Open

   26 signatures

5. I want the Welsh Government to commit to keeping the Flying Start programme in Wales.

   Open

   13 signatures

6. The Welsh Government should work with ESTYN to reduce the pressure and expectation during ESTYN inspections for non maintained nurseries in wales

   Open

   7 signatures

No committee sessions on this brief in the Seventh Senedd yet.

Articles by Senedd Research, the Senedd's impartial research service, on this brief, newest first.

1. Free childcare: why, who for and how?

   1 June 2026

   For the past decade there has been a political race to pledge more hours of free childcare to more families and to younger children.

2. How effectively is the Welsh Government tackling child poverty?

   9 January 2024

   Living in poverty affects children’s life chances, educational attainment, health and future work prospects.

More from Senedd Research on this subject

Titles and summaries are Senedd Research's own, © Senedd Commission. How we match articles to briefs.

340 contributions in the Seventh Senedd, newest first.

1. Rhun ap IorwerthPlaid

   2 June 2026, Plenary

   Questions to the First Minister

   …creating better jobs in all parts of Wales; it is about raising education standards; it is about a childcare offer in order to help with the cost of living; it's about standing up for Wales; and, No. 1, it's about creating an NHS and care service that is fit for the future. That was our pledge and…

   Tagged for: “childcare offer”, “childcare”Official Record

2. Rhun ap IorwerthPlaid

   19 May 2026, Plenary

   Statement by the First Minister: The First Minister's Priorities

   …approach to preventing ill health, recognising the importance of good living conditions, supporting early years environments, cultural and economic drivers, and so on. Going back to a question raised earlier, and I omitted to respond to it, there's no suggestion of taking money from health towards…

   Tagged for: “early years”Official Record

3. Anthony SlaughterGreen

   19 May 2026, Plenary

   Statement by the First Minister: The First Minister's Priorities

   …to feed their children. We're here for those young families struggling with the exorbitant costs of childcare. And I'm looking forward to working with the future—. And also not to mention the nature and climate crisis. And what matters to us is actions, not words. So, I look forward to working with…

   Tagged for: “childcare”Official Record

4. Jane DoddsLib Dem

   19 May 2026, Plenary

   Statement by the First Minister: The First Minister's Priorities

   —particularly the one on child poverty, which we've touched on today, and the cost of living, the NHS, childcare. Where you move with real pace and urgency on these issues, you'll find in me a constructive partner. I want to speak for those not in the Siambr today: the young people who can't see a…

   Tagged for: “childcare”Official Record

5. Rhun ap IorwerthPlaid

   19 May 2026, Plenary

   Statement by the First Minister: The First Minister's Priorities

   …because it is needed. It's needed by families. It's needed by communities. We will look at the current childcare offer for Wales and Flying Start childcare programmes to learn from them, because this is by no means a Government that wants to throw everything out and start again. Where there's good…

   Tagged for: “childcare offer”, “childcare”, “Flying Start”Official Record

6. Zaynub AkbarPlaid

   19 May 2026, Plenary

   Statement by the First Minister: The First Minister's Priorities

   Diolch, Lywydd. Families across Cardiff are facing rising childcare costs at a time when too many children are growing up in poverty. Parents should not be forced to choose between work and affordable childcare, and every child deserves the best possible start in life. This challenge is particularly…

   Tagged for: “childcare costs”, “childcare”, “childcare offer”Official Record

7. Rhun ap IorwerthPlaid

   19 May 2026, Plenary

   Statement by the First Minister: The First Minister's Priorities

   …principles this time. We know what needs to be done; we know they're challenging. And looking at childcare, yes, there's a focus, understandably, on the finances, which we know will be manageable, though pushing our limits as Ministers, but it's the workforce that we also have to focus on, how we…

   Tagged for: “childcare”Official Record

8. Ken SkatesLabour

   19 May 2026, Plenary

   Statement by the First Minister: The First Minister's Priorities

   …determine the how, what you won't do, what you'll cut, what you won't pay for. Take, for example, the childcare policy. It's been over seven months since the policy was first announced—seven months—and, still, the public haven't had an answer to that very basic question of how it will be funded. Now…

   Tagged for: “childcare”Official Record

9. Rhun ap IorwerthPlaid

   19 May 2026, Plenary

   Statement by the First Minister: The First Minister's Priorities

   …in the statement that I have issued today, be it on health, or education, or creating jobs, or the childcare offer, and standing up for Wales. These matters are very, very important. I have no doubt that we will continue to cross swords on the question of ambition for our nation. Maybe I could talk…

   Tagged for: “childcare offer”, “childcare”Official Record

10. Rhun ap IorwerthPlaid

    19 May 2026, Plenary

    Statement by the First Minister: The First Minister's Priorities

    …targets, benchmarks, milestones to drive ambitious but deliverable change. Our new transformational childcare offer will be the most generous in the history of devolution and the UK, helping boost household incomes and helping to lift families out of poverty—at full roll-out, 20 hours of funded childcare…

    Tagged for: “childcare offer”, “childcare”, “20 hours”, “funded childcare”Official Record

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