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Childcare Offer for Wales

Published: 20/06/2018

Flintshire welcomes the Welsh Government’s announcement that their funded childcare offer is to be expanded to a further seven local authorities across Wales. Parents will receive a combined total of 30 hours of early education and childcare during term time and up to 30 hours during school holidays. The current free early education provided by the Foundation Phase will form part of this offer. In North Wales, as one of the pilot authorities, Flintshire has led the development of the childcare offer, alongside Anglesey and Gwynedd, and it will now be made available in Wrexham and Conwy. Flintshire will be lending their expertise to colleagues in Wrexham as our neighbour introduces the Offer. In this process, Wrexham will maximise take up by parents and childcare providers. Wrexham parents will be able to apply online through a link on the Flintshire Family Information webpages or the Childcare Offer webpage. Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Services, Councillor Christine Jones, said: “Flintshire has led a really successful pilot and developed our own bespoke technology which has been held up as an example of best practice and, from July, parents in Wrexham will be able to take advantage of our system to check their eligibility and apply. In Flintshire alone, we have made a real difference to 948 eligible families. Families in Flintshire are benefitting by as much as £5,535 a year. Since September 2017, Flintshire has claimed just over £1.5 million to support local families. “We are also supporting the wellbeing of children and helping to address childhood poverty in a very direct way by increasing working household’s disposable incomes. Many families have told us this has had a positive impact on their wellbeing. “Also, 184 childcare providers have registered which shows how popular it is with providers.” To find out if you are eligible, check online at: http://www.flintshire.gov.uk/en/Resident/Schools/childcare-offer.aspx. Further information can be obtained from the Flintshire Family Information Service on 01352 703500 or email fisf@flintshire.gov.uk. Wrexham’s Family Information Service and Childcare teams can be contacted on 01978 292094 or fis@wrexham.gov.uk.