Lack of disabled childcare in Wales laid bare by pandemic

2 mins read

Thursday 3 February 2022

Tags: Covid-19, wales, counting the costs, childcare, pandemic, caring

Over a third (38%) of Welsh councils do not have enough childcare for disabled children, a cross-party Senedd Committee report has found this week.

And childcare provision for disabled children has decreased further in the last year as face-to-face services have shut down.

The report, by the Senedd’s Equalities and Social Justice Committee, recommends the Welsh Government increase funding available to improve provision for children with disabilities and/or additional or complex needs.

The report echoes what you told us in our Counting the Costs survey. Over half (57%) of 169 Welsh families said that caring responsibilities mean they or their partner has given up paid work. On average, this resulted in a loss of £22,414 from their family income.

In addition to more funding for disabled children’s childcare, we are calling on the UK and Welsh governments to invest in specialist independent advice services to help families with disabled children claim what they are entitled to.

Take action and send our template letter to your MP.

Need advice about childcare?

Visit our page on finding childcare for information about what service are out there.

Our page on paying for childcare explains help towards childcare costs, including free childcare schemes.