Childcare deal one of ‘best in UK’

PARENTS in Rhondda Cynon Taf will soon be offered one of the most generous childcare provisions in the whole of the UK, the council has said.

It could mean parents being offered 30 hours’ free childcare per week for 48 weeks of the year in four school cluster areas.

It’s thanks to Welsh Government support, and RCT council’s cabinet approved the pilot areas last week.

Those set to benefit from the scheme could include the cluster areas of Bryn Celynnog, Mountain Ash and Ferndale, and a Welsh medium pilot could also be undertaken around the Rhydywaun catchment area.

Now a more detailed proposal will be resubmitted to the Welsh Government for their approval.

It’s hoped the areas will start offering the childcare from September 2017, with the full roll out across the county expected by 2020 or 2021.

Councillor Joy Rosser, cabinet member for prosperity, wellbeing and communities, said: “We have been proactive in seeking to pilot this ambitious and radical childcare proposal.

“We welcome the funding being made available by the Welsh Government to allow local authorities to support the delivery of what would become the most generous free childcare provision in the whole of the United Kingdom.”

To be eligible for the offer, both parents (or one if in a lone-parent family) must work for 16 hours or more per week at national minimum wage.

It is likely that children will be eligible to receive the offer from the term following their third birthday to the September following their fourth birthday, although that is yet to be formally confirmed by Welsh Government officials.