During a debate on childcare last week at the Welsh Assembly, minister for children Jane Hutt said, 'The Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships have worked hard to make a difference in their local communities. I am pleased to announce 3.8m for them for next year so that they can start the financial year with more than a 250 per cent increase over the position at the start of the year.
'As a result I expect to see a big step forward in each area from this funding -start-up grants for new childminders, new information services, better provision for training, more encouragement to families to take up the Working Families Tax Credit, and where appropriate, direct support to ensure the survival of playgroups which face difficulties sustaining themselves.'
She also stressed the importance of play provision. 'As a minister and as a parent, I know the crucial value to children of the high-quality play experiences provided by playgroups.'
Wales Pre-school Playgroups Association executive officer Wendy Hawkins welcomed the funding but warned that the future of playgroups was still in jeopardy. She said, 'What playgroups really need is sustainability funding, as the minister has pointed out. The minister recognises the crucial value to children of high-quality play experiences, but many groups are struggling to remain viable as more children are sucked into schools earlier and earlier. A true mixed economy will reflect the need for all three-year-olds to be funded, whatever provision they are in. Funding in quality playgroups or nursery schools is required equally for three-year-olds in Wales.
'Jane Hutt has the understanding of the voluntary sector and the needs of children at heart. We welcome the new funding, as playgroups need every penny if they are going to survive.'
Hywel Jones, director of Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin, which represents Welsh-speaking playgroups, said, 'We warmly welcome the minister's support for playgroups and the work that they do, and give the announcement of increased funding a cautious welcome. We shall wait to see exactly how the increased funding is allocated by the partnerships to see whether the sustainability of playgroups has improved.
'Any new funding for this important service, including training, is good news.'