Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:09 pm on 21 May 2019.
Well, I thank the Member for those additional questions. Llywydd, on the issue of Bridgend, Huw Irranca-Davies will be pleased to know that there is already a meeting in the diary for Julie Morgan to meet with the leader of Bridgend council, Huw David, because it is a complex issue, and I know the Minister felt that it would be better to explore those complexities face to face. The foundation phase is a universal offer and the childcare offer is a targeted offer—how we bring them together is a matter that is best discussed in that complex detail in a face-to-face meeting.
Of course, I agree with what Huw Irranca-Davies said about the long-term ambition to make sure that we have high-quality and stimulating experiences in both care and learning settings. It's why we've provided £60 million in additional capital investment that will go into 115 childcare settings. Co-location of the foundation phase and the additional childcare offer provision is absolutely at the heart of what that £60 million is meant to bring about, so that we have affordable, available and accessible childcare and early years learning in a way that brings those two things powerfully together.