What consideration has the Welsh Government given to the recommendations of Women's Equality Network Wales's 2025 report Transforming Early Education and Childcare in Wales?
The Welsh Government has carefully considered the recommendations in the Women’s Equality Network Wales’s 2025 report, including through regular engagement between officials and the WEN Wales leadership team. The report recommended that the next Welsh Government invest in a flexible, streamlined childcare system to reduce poverty, promote child development and boost employment. The Programme for Government published on 22 September reflects this ambition, with a commitment to help tackle child poverty and support families by delivering a transformative and universal new Childcare Offer for children from the age of 9 months to 4 years. This will build progressively to 20 hours of funded childcare a week for 48 weeks a year, while maintaining the existing 30-hour offer for eligible 3- and 4-year-olds. It will be supported by work to simplify access through a single application system, expand Welsh-medium early years provision, and work closely with childcare providers to build capacity and grow the workforce.