TIME FOR TRANSFORMATIVE NEW CHILDCARE IN WALES

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth unveils universal new childcare offer worth more than £30,000 in childcare costs

 

A Plaid Cymru government will deliver a transformative and universal new childcare offer for children from the age of 9 months to 4 years – worth more than £30,000 in childcare costs in the first four years of a child’s life, Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has announced.

 

Addressing Plaid Cymru’s Annual Conference in Swansea, Rhun ap Iorwerth said the offer would be the “most generous Welsh childcare offer ever”.

 

The new offer will build to 20 hours a week for all children aged 9-months to 4-years-old for 48 weeks a year; while also honouring the existing 30-hour offer for those children aged 3 and 4 whose parents are in work, education or training.

 

At full rollout, this universal offer will be the most generous government-funded childcare programme anywhere in the UK.

 

Speaking during his conference speech Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said,

 

“We know what we strive towards. No community left behind and no person, family, or child unworthy of a decent life.

 

“That is why today, I am announcing that a Plaid Cymru government would introduce a transformative new universal free childcare programme, available for all children from the age of 9 months to 4 years, building towards providing at least 20 hours a week for 48 weeks a year.

 

“This is the most generous Welsh childcare offer ever, worth more than £30,000 to families in the first four years of their son or daughter’s life - a game-changing intervention with a multi-generational impact.

 

“For children, the opportunity to socialise, to learn new skills and to set them on the right path to thrive in primary education.

 

“For parents, the freedom to return to work without being forced to make the agonising calculation of whether they can afford it.

 

“And for grandparents, so often caring for their children, their children’s children and their own ageing parents, the peace of mind that their government is on their side and on the side of their family.

 

“Unlike the Labour Government’s offer in England, Plaid Cymru’s will be universal, eliminating the perverse prospect of the gap between entitlements for disadvantaged children and those with working parents being wider than ever, as charities have recently warned.

 

“A helping hand with the things that matter the most.

 

“That’s what a Plaid Cymru Government will mean for you and your family.

 

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on Social Justice and Early Years Sioned Williams MS said,

 

“Investing in childcare and early years education delivers one of the strongest returns of any public investment. In the medium to long term, it more than pays for itself, with global evidence showing returns on investment of around 13% – through better outcomes for children, higher rates of employment for parents, and a stronger, healthier economy.”

 

“Current childcare costs in Wales are the highest anywhere in the UK, with many families spending more on childcare than on housing. This locks many families out of accessing childcare at all.

 

“A Plaid Cymru government will go further and faster on extending access to childcare – to put money back in families’ pockets, combat child poverty and provide the best start in life for every child in Wales.

 

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LABOUR ‘DELETE’ CALL TO TACKLE CHILD POVERTY

Welsh Government statistics published this week show that child poverty has risen by 2% to 31% in Wales, the highest rise of all UK nations. However, ahead of a Plaid Cymru debate in the Senedd on April 2nd 2025, where they will call on the Welsh Government to implement a child payment, the Labour Welsh Government have deleted the calls in their amendment to the original motion.

 

Instead, the Welsh Government have focused once again on a ‘commitment…to engage with the Scottish Government to better understand the Scottish Child Payment and how it operates’ despite this having been a matter of discussion for a number of years in Wales.

 

Plaid Cymru Social Justice spokesperson Sioned Williams has criticised the Government’s decision to delete the call, accusing Labour of ‘stalling’ and ‘refusing to take direct action on tackling child poverty’ calling it out as a ‘national stain’.

 

This comes in the same week as the UK Labour Government announcement to cut almost £5 billion in welfare spending, a decision that will push a further 50,000 children into poverty across England and Wales.

 

Plaid Cymru announced a direct child payment to tackle child poverty in their Spring Conference in Llandudno last week. The payment will ‘boost support by putting money in the pockets of those struggling’.

 

A similar scheme in Scotland has had a transformative impact on child poverty, helping Scotland become the only nation in the UK where child poverty levels are expected to decrease.

 

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on Social Justice, Sioned Williams MS, said:

 

“Labour are failing our children and young people as the Government’s own figures released this week show.  Not only is child poverty growing in Wales, but it is growing at the fastest rate of all UK nations. This is the result of 25 years of Labour inaction in getting to grips with the national stain that is child poverty.

 

“Their choice to ‘delete’ Plaid Cymru’s calls to implement a child payment is just another example of their refusal to take direct action on tackling child poverty. How long will Labour be content to talk around the issue when the actions needed are known and proven.

 

“Plaid Cymru has real, ambitious, tangible solutions to tackle child poverty. In Government we will take action to support the 31% of children that are currently growing up in poverty, living in households which are struggling to make ends meet, by implementing a child payment.

 

“While Labour are happy to stall, Plaid Cymru will act. While Labour chooses to cut almost £5 billion in support to the most vulnerable, Plaid Cymru look to boost support by putting money in the pockets of those struggling. While Labour are happy continuing with the status quo, Plaid Cymru offer a fresh start.”

 

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TACKLING INEQUALITY IN WALES

Plaid Cymru has published a ‘Cost of Inequality’ plan that would help people struggling to pay bills over winter.  

The five proposals are “tangible solutions” that would address the growing challenges faced by people over winter.

Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd and party spokesperson for social justice Sioned Williams said that the Labour government in Wales should be doing more to “support those in need”.

Ms Williams said that Wales possessed powers to take direct action at little additional cost to help families struggling to make ends meet. She suggested the Labour administration was not acting with the “urgency and seriousness” the crisis deserved and said they seemed more content to “settle for crumbs” from London.

Outlining the proposals, the Plaid Cymru MS said that Plaid Cymru would continue to fight for the best interests of Wales’ communities over winter.

The five proposals include:

1. Implementing the new Warm Homes Programme at once to tackle fuel poverty.
2. Pilot free bus travel for under 16s
3. Extend free school meals to secondary school pupils in households receiving Universal Credit
4. Begin creating a Welsh Benefits System
5. Winter rent freeze and eviction moratorium

Plaid Cymru spokesperson for social justice, Sioned Williams MS said,

"The cost of inequality crisis facing households this winter is devastating. The price of food and fuel has left families struggling to make ends meet. Energy bills are at an all time high. Rent and mortgage payments are continuing to rise. People are going out with basic essentials.

"It's not just unfair, it's unconscionable.

“Plaid Cymru is proud of the steps we have already taken to put more money into people’s pockets and help household budgets go further – including helping to deliver free school meals to primary school children, securing additional free childcare, and uplifting the EMA from £30 to £40.

“But there’s more the Labour Government can and must do to support those in need.

“This includes implementing the Warm Homes Programme urgently to combat fuel poverty, supporting local authorities to pilot free bus travel for young people, extending free school meals to more students, and working towards a Welsh Benefits System that is fair and efficient.

“Furthermore, the government must take immediate action to address the housing crisis by announcing a winter rent freeze and reintroducing an eviction moratorium for private renters. Affordable and sustainable housing is essential to mitigate the worst of the cost of inequality crisis.

"These are all tangible solutions that will directly address the pressing challenges faced by our communities.

“Labour must step up, use the powers Wales has and tackle the crisis with the urgency and seriousness it deserves - rather than settle for crumbs from the Conservatives in London.

"Plaid Cymru will continue to fight for the best interests of our communities during what will be a difficult winter.