Mum wishing son's life away in free childcare wait

Alex McGinn and her son did not qualify for free childcare for two-year-olds

A mum says she worries she is wishing her son's life away as she waits to qualify for help with childcare costs.

Alex McGinn, from Holyhead, Anglesey, has been waiting for her son to turn three to receive 30 hours of free childcare per week.

But she did not qualify for a free childcare scheme which is only available for some two-year-olds in Wales, although this is being extended.

The Welsh government said it was making "excellent" progress on rolling out high-quality provision but campaigners have called for a clearer plan.

In England, an offer of 15 hours of free childcare per week has been introduced for two-year-olds.

Ms McGinn owns a nursery and her son went to a childminder from five months old when she went back to work.

She said: "I’m the only breadwinner in the house and I couldn't afford to not work, especially with the rising costs of bills and my mortgage."

She was paying about £1,000 a month for childcare, but did not qualify for financial support offered under the Welsh government's Flying Start programme - which offers 12-and-a-half hours of childcare per week.

That scheme, which is focused on the most disadvantaged areas, is being extended - but only gradually.

The childcare system is "really confusing and unfair", says mother-of-one Alex McGinn

"We weren’t eligible for Flying Start because we weren't in the postcode," Ms McGinn said.

"My friend across the road does get it.

"I would like to see an equal playing field for all parents because childcare is expensive and it's expensive for everyone, not just me because I'm on my own. But for everyone."

She added: “All families in Wales should be treated equally."

Now her son has turned three, she is eligible for a different scheme - the Childcare Offer, which provides up to 30 hours of early education and childcare a week for working parents of three and four-year-olds.

But Alex said parents in Wales were at a disadvantage compared with families in England where a new offer of free childcare for two-year-olds is being introduced from April.

Sarah Rees, head of Oxfam Cymru, said the new offer for England was "riddled with problems" but it was understandable parents in Wales felt "short-changed".

She said some parents were confused about whether the changes applied in Wales and in some cases letters had mistakenly been sent to families saying they qualified.

The charity is calling for an overhaul of the system and a clearer plan from the Welsh government about how free childcare is being extended to more areas.

"What parents want to know is when will that be rolled out to all two-year-olds, not via the postcode lottery it currently is," Ms Rees said.

"And also how will it help them to work when it is just two-and-a-half hours a day."

Little Sprouts nursery in Neath offers 12-and-a-half hours a week for two-year-olds under the Welsh government programme

The Welsh government said it was making "excellent progress rolling out high-quality childcare to two-year-olds across Wales".

The scheme is part of the Labour government's cooperation deal with Plaid Cymru and it aims to create 9,500 extra places by 2025.

It said "a phased roll-out" took account of capacity in the sector and the need to increase staff and the number of settings.

Little Sprouts in Neath is one nursery which has been able to offer more places with the extension of the Flying Start programme.

Stephanie Thomas has been able to increase her hours at work due to support with childcare costs

Mum-of-two Stephanie Thomas was able to take up the offer of free childcare hours for her daughter which meant she could go back to work full-time.

Her daughter has "come on leaps and bounds" at Little Sprouts nursery, she said.

"It’s helped me for my mental health as well.

"I’ve got friends locally who will work full-time and their entire wage goes towards childcare and I just think it’s crazy.

"We’re trying to support working parents going back to work and then we’ve put in all these barriers in front of them so having the extra free childcare is definitely a huge help."