Will the Cabinet Secretary provide an update on phase two of the plan to expand free childcare for two-year-olds in Wales and share the timetable the Government is working towards to ensure that all two-year-olds will receive 12.5 hours of free childcare?
We are making excellent progress in expanding the provision of high quality Flying Start childcare to all two-year-olds across Wales.
Phase 2 of the expansion began in March 2023. In 2023-24, 6,885 additional childcare places were offered to two-year-olds across Wales. We expect to support more than 9,500 additional two-year-olds to access Flying Start childcare during 2023-24 and 2024-25 and we are well on track to deliver that.
To support further progress in this area, on 9 October 2024, Welsh Government commissioned all local authorities across Wales to prepare expansion plans for the next phase (Phase 3) of the rollout of childcare provision to all two-year-olds in their area. These plans will help inform the pace at which further expansion can sustainably be delivered.