Application arrangements for Welsh Government’s Childcare Offer

Following Welsh Government’s confirmation that the Childcare Offer for Wales is being reinstated, the Council has announced the local arrangements for parents to apply – with the first group able to do so from August 10.

On August 4, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, Julie Morgan MS, announced that applications will reopen following a pause on April 1 due to Coronavirus. The Childcare Officer for Wales provides 30 hours per week of early education and additional funded childcare to working parents of three and four-year-olds for 48 weeks of the year. The Offer is available in all areas of Rhondda Cynon Taf.

The Council’s dedicated webpages where residents can find more about the Offer and complete an application (www.rctcbc.gov.uk/childcareoffer) are in the process of being updated. This will be done in preparation for the following application periods, which have now been confirmed by the Council:

· August 10, 2020 – applications open for eligible parents of children who turned three years-old between January 1 and March 31, 2020. All parents must make a new application, regardless of whether they have applied before.

· August 31, 2020 – applications open for eligible parents of children who turned three years-old between April 1 and August 31, 2020. Applications made before the August 31 opening date will be rejected, and parents must reapply.

Councillor Joy Rosser, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Inclusion Services, said: “I’m sure that working parents across the County Borough welcomed Welsh Government’s announcement on Tuesday, which confirmed the Childcare Offer is being reinstated. The Offer was first piloted in certain areas of Rhondda Cynon Taf in September 2017 and is now available in all areas of the County Borough – and continues to be an invaluable support to help parents access employment.

“Following the announcement, the Council has moved quickly to confirm the application arrangements for parents. The first applications will be accepted from Monday, August 10, for parents of children who turned three years-old between January 1 and March 31 this year, while applications for all other

three-year-olds open on August 31. I’d urge all eligible parents to consider taking up the Offer, with more information available on Rhondda Cynon Tf Council’s website.”