The Childcare Offer

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:08 pm on 21 May 2019.

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Photo of Huw Irranca-Davies Huw Irranca-Davies Labour 2:08, 21 May 2019

I welcome that news and the fact that we've got the delivery not just on time but ahead of time, and within budget as well, of this very ambitious and groundbreaking childcare offer, being taken forward very ably by my colleague Julie Morgan.

But, could I ask the First Minister whether his Ministers and Welsh Government officials will meet with the officers and cabinet members of Bridgend County Borough Council, who traditionally, historically, have over-provided the foundation phase to the tune of 25 or 30 hours a week, at great cost, but deliberately in order to benefit the lives of young people, to see the way that we can make this work within the Bridgend area as well? And could I also ask what is being done to develop that longer term—medium to longer term—thinking on a more joined-up, more comprehensive system of early years childcare and education, age-appropriate for all ages? We cannot do it overnight, but I championed this while I was in Government and I'll continue to champion it because I think it's what Wales should be doing in the long term.