Childcare scheme rolled out
FREE childcare and early education has been rolled out across large parts of Rhondda Cynon Taff.
The Welsh Government scheme will provide 30 hours of early education and childcare to working parents of three and fouryear-olds for 48 weeks of the year.
On Wednesday, April 11 children’s minister Huw Irranca-Davies said the offer will cover all of RCT from September 2018.
The offer is also being expanded immediately into the following areas of the county in the wards of Brynna, Llanharan, Llanharry, Talbot Green, Hawthorn, Graig, Rhydyfelin Central, Taff’s Well and Treforest.
Mr Irranca-Davies said: “Our groundbreaking childcare offer is already making a real difference to parents right across Wales, reducing the strain on family income and helping ensure childcare is not a barrier to them taking up employment or increasing their hours.
“I’m delighted to confirm the offer is being rolled out to new areas across Wales, as we continue the work to roll out the offer across the entire country by 2020.”
In September 2017 the Welsh Government began piloting the scheme in other areas of RCT.
Mr Irranca-Davies said, who said he was fully committed to the full roll-out by September 2020, also announced an increase in funding this year of £25m rising to £45m the following year.