FREE childcare offered across RCT
Parents of three and four year olds are being reminded the FREE 30 hour childcare offer is being rolled out to the whole of Rhondda Cynon Taf in September.
By the time children return to school in the new term, eligible children in every ward in the county borough will be able to take advantage of the offer – the most generous in Wales – offering 30 hours of childcare a week for working parents.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council was chosen as one of the pilot areas to trial the childcare offer on behalf of the Welsh Government last year.
Children are eligible from the term following their third birthday until the term following their fourth birthday providing:
- Both parents (or one if in single parent family) are working or self employed.
- Earn a minimum weekly equivalent of 16 hours paid at the National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage (between £111 and £115). There is no maximum earnings cap.
You can find the full list of who is eligible – and check if you can qualify – at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/childcareoffer
Cllr Christina Leyshon, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Rhondda Cynon Taf Council worked hard to secure its position as a pilot area for the Welsh Government childcare offer as we knew the benefit it could bring to working parents in the county borough.
“At present, the offer is only available in certain wards and we are pleased to be able to now offer it to every eligible child in the county borough, a huge boost for working parents.
“The childcare offer pages at www.rctcbc.gov.uk are full of information and contain an easy, online eligibility checker which can tell you in seconds if you meet the criteria for the offer. It’s worth checking it out so you can see what you can access.
“More and more childcare providers are joining up to deliver the provision for parents, including many that offer transport from school to the childcare setting. Details of these can also be found on the web pages.”
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Taking Wales Forward commits the Welsh Government to providing 30 hours a week of government-funded early education and childcare for working parents of three and four year olds, for up to 48 weeks of the year.
Seven local authorities have been working with the Welsh Government to deliver the childcare offer since September 2017, and the Minister for Children, Older People and Social Care has announced that further seven authorities will begin delivering the offer from September 2018.
The childcare offer is currently available to eligible parents across the whole of the following local authorities:
- Isle of Anglesey County Council;
- Gwynedd Council;
- Caerphilly County Borough Council;
- Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council; and
- Flintshire County Council.
The childcare offer is also currently available within selected areas of the following local authorities:
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council – the wards of: Aberaman North; Aberaman South; Abercynon; Aberdare East; Aberdare West; Beddau; Brynna; Church Village; Cwmbach; Ferndale; Graig; Hawthorn; Hirwaun; Llanharan; Llanharry; Llantrisant Town; Llantwit Fardre; Maerdy; Mountain Ash East; Mountain Ash West; Penrhiwceiber; Penywaun; Pontyclun; Rhigos; Rhydyfelin Central; Taff’s Well; Talbot Green; Tonteg;Treforest; Tylorstown; Tynant; Ynyshir.
Swansea Council – the wards of: Cockett; Dunvant; Gorseinon Gowerton; Kingsbridge; Upper Lougher; Lower Loughor; Morriston; Penclawdd; Penderry; Penyrheol; Llangyfelach; Llansamlet; Penllegaer; Pontarddulais; and West Cross.
From September 2018 the offer will also be available across the whole of:
- Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
- Torfaen County Council; and
- Ceredigion County Borough Council
The childcare offer will also be available within selected areas of the following local authorities from September 2018:
Cardiff – Grangetown; Butetown; Riverside; Adamsdown; Cathays; Plasnewydd; Caerau; Splott; Ely; Llanrumney.
Newport – Rogerstone; Lliswerry; Malpas; St Julians; Stow Hill; Shaftsbury; Maesglas; Gaer.
Neath Port Talbot – Tai-Bach; Resolven; Baglan; Aberavon; Pontardawe; Blaengwrach; Onllwyn; Bryn-coch South; Glyncorrwg; Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen; Cymer; Lower Brynamman.
Conwy – Kinmel Bay; Towyn; Pensarn; Gele; Llanddulas; Trefriw; Betws y Coed; Caerhun; Uwch Conwy ; Llanfair TH; Pentrefoelas; Tudno; Mostyn; Gogarth; Llangernyw; Llansannan; Betws Yn Rhos; Eglwysbach; Gower; Crwst; Uwchaled; Pentre Mawr.
Wrexham – Llay; Gwersyllt East and South; Gwersyllt North; Gwersyllt West; New Broughton; Coedpoeth; Ponciau; Gresford East and West; Rossett; Marford and Hoseley; Holt; Bronington; Overton and Brymbo.
Swansea – will continue a phased roll-out across the city so that the whole of Swansea is eligible for the childcare offer from January 2019.
If you live in one of these pilot areas, please visit your authorities website or your Family Information Service for more details on if you’re eligible for the offer and how to apply.
