Poorer families being penalised – commissioner

POORER families are being penalised by the Welsh Government’s childcare policy, a damning report suggests today.

The Children’s Commissioner warns that the least well-off three and four-yearolds are denied opportunities of their better-off peers.

In her annual report, Professor Sally Holland outlines her concerns over the Welsh Government’s new offer of 30 hours’ free childcare every week for 48 weeks a year.

Children from the poorest families are already around 10 months behind those from better-off backgrounds in terms of development by the age of three, according to the Millennium Cohort Study, the report points out.

Prof Holland says giving all children the same offer of high-quality childcare would help all children in Wales fulfil their potential and address the gap which leaves some not ready to learn when they start school.

“The government needs to re-think its child care policy and consider the serious long-term consequences this policy could have for the children who need the most support,” the report says.

“There is clear evidence that if you invest in early years’ education and high quality child care it makes a significant difference to the life chances of children from the poorest backgrounds. It also saves money in the long-term as those who receive early help go on to contribute more to society and need fewer services.

“I absolutely welcome the planned expansion of free child care as it will assist with child care costs for working families, recognising that the majority of children living in poverty have working parents. However, I want to avoid a situation where children of non-working parents are denied their right to reach their full potential.”

In other areas the report notes strides in Welsh Government and local government policies and provision for young people leaving care.

On home education Prof Holland repeats calls for a register for electively home educated children and for those children to be seen from time to time by a professional. This follows concerns that a small number of children may not be receiving the education and care at home to which they have a right.

And, after young people with experience of living in care raised concerns with the commissioner about not being able to maintain contact with their adopted siblings her report also calls on the Welsh Government to work with the Adoption Service to ensure that siblings’ rights to contact are fully considered during adoption planning.

“Young people report feeling they are being punished when contact is not promoted,” she warns. The report says more support should also be given to deaf children and their families.

After meeting hearing parents unable to communicate fully with their deaf children, and other deaf children and their families, the commissioner is calling for Welsh Government and local authorities to ensure support is provided, including accessible and affordable Brtish Sign Language learning.

A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “We welcome the Children’s Commissioner’s Report. We will study it closely and respond in due course.

“Work is the best route out of poverty, and the greatest protection against it.

“Our childcare offer is designed to remove a major barrier to work and tackle in-work poverty by reducing the costs of going to work.

“Other Welsh Government schemes, such as PaCE, are designed to help parents cover the costs of childcare while they gain the skills and experience to find work.”