More two-year-olds across Wales to benefit from funded childcare with further £10 million investment

More two-year olds in Wales are set to benefit from funded childcare as scheme expands with £10 million of further Welsh Government funding.

The extra funding is part of a phased plan to expand early years provision to all two-year-olds in Wales, with a particular emphasis on strengthening Welsh-medium provision. This is a commitment in the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.

The new investment will see an additional 2,200 children benefit from Flying Start childcare in 2023-24.

Flying Start helps families with young children in the most disadvantaged areas of Wales and includes free, part-time quality childcare for children aged two to three living in those areas.

During 2023-24 and 2024-25 the Welsh Government will invest a total of £46 million in expanding Flying Start childcare to support children and families across Wales facing the greatest challenges.

Phase 2 is expected to support over 4,500 more two-year-olds to access high quality Flying Start childcare in 2023-24. In 2024-25, Phase 2 will support a further 5,200 two-year olds.

Deputy Minister for Social Services Julie Morgan and Plaid Cymru Designated Member Siân Gwenllian announced the funding at a visit to Mount Stuart Primary School, in Cardiff.

Deputy Minister for Social Services Julie Morgan said:

“Developing high quality support for children and families in the early years has been a long-standing priority for the Welsh Government.

“I am delighted to announce a further £10 million in 2023-24 to extend the reach of this important scheme which will enable more children to access high quality childcare.

“This additional funding will make a considerable difference to the lives and outcomes of thousands of children and their families across Wales and offer opportunities for more children to access Welsh Medium provision.

“High quality learning and care in early years supports child development and plays an important role in supporting school readiness and addressing the attainment gap, particularly for children facing the greatest challenges.”

Plaid Cymru Designated Member Siân Gwenllian said:

“Investment in the early years is a game-changer to address inequality and give children the best start in life. This new funding is the latest step in achieving our joint commitment to expand funded childcare to all two-year-olds with a particular focus on providing and strengthening Welsh-medium childcare.

“This extra £10 million of funding is part of our phased approach to rolling out this commitment that will make a real difference to people’s lives. This is about providing accessible childcare, benefiting children and their families, making a real difference to lives across the country.”

Mwy o blant dwy oed ledled Cymru yn cael manteisio ar ofal blant a ariennir diolch i fuddsoddiad pellach o £10 miliwn

Bydd mwy o blant dwy oed ledled Cymru yn cael manteisio ar ofal blant a ariennir diolch i fuddsoddiad pellach o £10 miliwn gan Lywodraeth Cymru.

Mae’r cyllid ychwanegol yn rhan o gynllun gam wrth gam i ehangu’r ddarpariaeth blynyddoedd cynnar i bob plentyn dwy oed yng Nghymru, gyda phwyslais benodol ar gryfhau darpariaeth cyfrwng Cymraeg. Mae hwn yn ymrwymiad yn y Cytundeb Cydweithio rhwng Llywodraeth Cymru a Phlaid Cymru.

Bydd y buddsoddiad newydd yn caniatáu i 2,200 yn fwy o blant fanteisio ar ofal plant Dechrau’n Deg yn 2023-24.

Mae Dechrau’n Deg yn helpu teuluoedd â phlant ifanc sy’n byw yn yr ardaloedd mwyaf difreintiedig yng Nghymru, ac mae’n cynnwys gofal plant rhan-amser am ddim i blant dwy a thair oed sy’n byw yn yr ardaloedd hynny.

Yn ystod 2023-24 a 2024-25 bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn buddsoddi cyfanswm o £46 miliwn i ehangu gofal plant Dechrau’n Deg i gefnogi plant a theuluoedd ledled Cymru sy’n wynebu’r heriau mwyaf.

Mae disgwyl i gam 2 gefnogi dros 4,500 yn fwy o blant dwy oed i gael gafael ar ofal plant o ansawdd uchel Dechrau’n Deg yn 2023-24. Yn 2024-25, bydd cam 2 yn cefnogi 5,200 yn fwy o blant dwy oed.

Mae’r Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, Julie Morgan ac Aelod Dynodedig Plaid Cymru, Siân Gwenllian wedi gwneud cyhoeddiad am y cyllid wrth ymweld ag Ysgol Gynradd Mount Stuart yng Nghaerdydd.

Dywedodd y Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, Julie Morgan:

“Mae datblygu cefnogaeth o ansawdd uchel i blant a theuluoedd yn y blynyddoedd cynnar wedi bod yn flaenoriaeth hirdymor i Lywodraeth Cymru.

“Rwy’n falch o gael cyhoeddi bod £10 miliwn ychwanegol ar gael yn 2023-24 i ehangu cwmpas y cynllun, a fydd yn caniatáu i fwy o blant gael mynediad at ddarpariaeth gofal plant o ansawdd uchel.

“Bydd y cyllid ychwanegol hwn yn gwneud gwahaniaeth sylweddol i fywydau a deilliannau miloedd o blant a’u teuluoedd ledled Cymru, ac yn cynnig cyfle i fwy o blant gael mynediad at ddarpariaeth cyfrwng Cymraeg.

“Mae gofal a dysgu o ansawdd uchel yn y blynyddoedd cynnar yn cefnogi datblygiad plant ac yn allweddol i’w paratoi ar gyfer yr ysgol ac i fynd i’r afael â’r bwlch cyrhaeddiad, yn enwedig i’r plant hynny sy’n wynebu’r heriau mwyaf.”

Dywedodd Aelod Dynodedig Plaid Cymru, Siân Gwenllian:

“Mae buddsoddi yn y blynyddoedd cynnar yn allweddol er mwyn mynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldeb a rhoi’r dechrau gorau mewn bywyd i blant. Y cyllid hwn yw’r cam diweddaraf yn ein hymdrech i gyflawni ein hymrwymiad i ehangu gofal plant a ariennir i bob plentyn dwy oed, gan ganolbwyntio’n benodol ar gryfhau gofal plant cyfrwng Cymraeg.

“Bydd y £10 miliwn ychwanegol hwn yn rhan o ddull gweithredu cam wrth gam ar gyfer cyflwyno’r ymrwymiad hwn a fydd yn gwneud gwahaniaeth go iawn i fywydau pobl. Mae’n fater o ddarparu gofal plant hygyrch, sydd o fudd i’r plant a’u teuluoedd ac yn gwneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol i bobl ledled y wlad.”