Cost of living: Childcare before breakfast clubs could cost £1

A £1 price tag could be attached to childcare before school breakfast clubs in Rhondda Cynon Taf

Parents who use free childcare before school breakfast clubs could soon be charged for it.

A price of £1 per day has been proposed by Rhondda Cynon Taf council for primary and special schools looking after children.

Under the proposals, breakfast clubs would remain free and run between 08:30 and 09:00 each morning.

But the council could introduce a charge on the childcare which is offered between 08:00 and 08:30.

The council said children eligible for free school meals would be exempt from the proposed changes.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the money would be re-invested in schools.

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With the ongoing cost of living crisis, several parents said they would not be able to afford the new charge.

Owen Thompson, 29, who drops his child off at school every day, said the childcare services were "vital" to him.

"Paying £1 a day would be impossible as many parents, including myself, don't have extra money to pay for things like this," he said.

Julie Ellis, 33, whose children use a breakfast club in the area, said: "It should be free at a time when people are struggling, parents like me rely on the childcare being free."

But parent Bethan Watkins said she thought the proposal was a "great idea".

"It could generate £500,000 extra income for the council, so I don't mind paying a bit extra to help the local community."

Rhondda Cynon Taf council has begun a consultation on the matter

The council's chief executive, Paul Mee, said the childcare proposals would not affect pupil access to breakfast clubs.

"The proposed £1 charge relates to a period of childcare offered by some schools before school starts, and the proposals would formalise this in a 30-minute period before breakfast club," Mr Mee said.

"Four other councils in Wales already charge for a similar service, and several others are currently considering it."

A public consultation on the proposal will run for six weeks from 27 November to 8 January. If agreed, the change could be implemented from April 2024.

The council's education member, Rhys Lewis, said the council was facing funding pressures.

Council leader Andrew Morgan said: "The harsh realities of the situation we face means that we have no option other than to reconsider what services we prioritise, or how we can do things differently."

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