Families of all two-year-olds in 19 parts of Wales can now access free childcare, with the Welsh Government confirming all 22 council areas are on track to deliver the offer by next March.
Expansion of funded childcare across Wales
The Plaid administration's changes prioritise 12.5 hours of free childcare during term time for children once they turn two. This builds on the existing 30-hour offer for children older than three.
The cost of childcare for this financial year is £200m, though the exact figure remains unclear as the scheme is demand-led. The budget for future years will be known after the next Welsh Government budget is published on November 17.
Next phases and workforce plans
The next phase of work involves extending the offer to all children aged two for 20 hours a week over 48 weeks, and then expanding provision for three and four year olds currently ineligible for the 20-hour offer. The ultimate goal is universal free childcare for all children aged nine months to four years at 20 hours a week.
On staffing, the Welsh Government said it is publishing a workforce plan this month, including retaining and training more staff. It aims to bring providers, including childminders, into the scheme, though changing ratios to nursery provision is not part of the plan.
Milestone reached in six months
Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams described reaching all but three council areas as a "major milestone". She noted that when the government took office in May, only three local authorities were offering funded childcare to all two-year-olds. By the end of this month, 19 local authorities will have delivered the offer, with the remaining three on track to do so by the end of March.
The 19 council areas where 12.5 hours of funded childcare for all two-year-olds will be available by the end of November are: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr, Monmouthshire, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan and Wrexham.
