Mudiad Meithrin urges the Government to secure financial support for disabled children to access Welsh-medium childcare
In light of the report published by the Senedd’s Children, Young People and Education Committee, Mudiad Meithrin calls upon the Welsh Government to provide financial support to enable disabled children to access childcare. In their investigation, the Committee drew attention to the difficulties faced by disabled children and their families, highlighting that the present funding system was unfair.
The report recommends significant changes, including ensuring that financial support for childcare is based upon the child’s needs rather than parental eligibility. Mudiad Meithrin supports this, noting that many children are excluded from childcare due to complex funding systems, and the fact that the Childcare Offer is based on parental employment status, not the child’s needs. This leads to a situation where disabled children do not have the opportunities to attend childcare and education, despite play activities and interaction being vital to their development and a support to their families.
Although the Welsh Government has refused specific recommendations to earmark funding to support inclusive provision, Mudiad Meithrin encourages the government to implement the recommendations to transform the situation. They insist that a more inclusive system is needed for education and childcare. Cylchoedd Meithrin, such as Cylch Meithrin Pwllheli and others, are ready to play a full part in implementing these changes.
Leanne Marsh, Mudiad Meithrin’s interim Chief Executive, has expressed concerns that disabled children will continue to be excluded unless the funding system changes. She believes that the present situation incorrectly places emphasis on parental eligibility, rather than the needs of the child. She calls for a system where every child, regardless of their parent’s working status, has access to suitable childcare with financial support.
For example, in the 2024 Mudiad Meithrin Awards, Cylch Meithrin Pwllheli won the ‘Cylch for All’ award for exemplary work in the field of inclusivity. However, Kim Jones the cylch’s leader, draws attention to the financial obstacles facing parents who are unable to access support as they are not in work.
Kim Jones, Cylch Meithrin Pwllheli’s leader, said:
‘We have robust processes in place to support every child with additional learning needs who attends our cylch. We put strategies in place to support each child’s individual needs.
‘I believe that we need to re-examine some elements, e.g. if the parents are eligible to receive the 20 hours free childcare then that child has means to access support if they have additional learning needs. If the parents are not eligible parents must pay for care, and there isn’t any additional financial support available to help the child. Is this inclusive? Every child needs equal opportunities. Children are being let down because their parents aren’t in work, therefore aren’t being given the same opportunities as children with working parents.’
In addition, there are continuous problems with delivering additional learning needs provision through the medium of Welsh, making access to Welsh-medium education a postcode lottery. This is especially concerning for the parents of disabled children who wish for Welsh education for their children, but are advised that education in English is more suitable for them. Mudiad Meithrin calls on the Welsh Government to create a strategy ensuring that inclusive Welsh-medium education is available for the early years onwards.
Myfanwy Harman, leader of Cylch Meithrin y Gurnos has also expressed concern about the lack of quality resources available in Welsh to support disabled children in their provision.
Myfanwy says:
“Childcare is a challenging area, and to effectively support disabled children in Welsh-medium childcare settings we need access to high quality resources of the same standard available in English. Without equal access to these essential resources the children we care for are at a disadvantage, and staff face unnecessary challenges delivering the best possible care and support.”
The situation calls for rapid action to ensure equality of opportunity for every child.
