Has the change in childcare daily food rates been introduced to fund the 20 per cent wage increase for childcare providers, in light of the written statement: Review of the Childcare Offer for Wales hourly rate and continued support for Flying Start childcare?
The Childcare Offer for Wales hourly rate paid to childcare providers will increase by 20% effective from April 2025. The revised rate reflects our continued support for the Childcare Sector in Wales.
From April 2025, the permissible charges for food will increase by 20%. As I stated in my Written Statement, we must carefully balance what is affordable for the provider and affordable for parents.
The uplift in food costs is not related to wage costs. The decision to increase these permissible charges is in the context of our policy that parents should not, as a condition of their child’s attendance, be required to take and pay for the provider’s food and may opt to provide packed meals, if the provider would normally allow this.