Flagship free childcare offer could be rolled out across Wrexham by early 2019

Parents across Wrexham could be eligible to access free childcare from the start of 2019.

The Welsh Government are increasing the pace of the rollout of their flagship childcare policy, which is already available to parents living in certain areas of Wrexham

The childcare offer provides 30 hours a week of government-funded early education and childcare to working parents of three and four year olds for up to 48 weeks of the year.

Currently the initiative is available in Anglesey, Gwynedd, Caerphilly, Flintshire, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea and Blaenau Gwent.

Over the summer it was announced that the following areas across Wrexham had been chosen to pilot the scheme:

– Llay
– Gwersyllt East and South, Gwersyllt North, Gwersyllt west
– New Broughton
– Coedpoeth
– Ponciau
– Gresford East and west
– Rossett
– Marford and Hoseley
– Holt
– Bronington
– Overton
– Brymbo

In a statement to Assembly Members last week the Welsh Government outlined its intention to increase the pace of the national rollout.

The scheme is set to be in place across Wales by 2020, however locally there is a view to roll out the scheme across Wrexham by January 2019.

Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths said: “This childcare offer, which was one of Welsh Labour’s key manifesto commitments, will make a tangible and positive difference to parents’ lives, helping reduce the strain on family income and enabling parents to return to work.”

“The Welsh Government envisages the scheme to be available nationwide by September 2020 so I am pleased parents in Wrexham will reap the rewards sooner rather than later.”