Welsh Government Launch 10 year plan for early years, childcare & play workforce

Launch of 10-year plan for early years, childcare and play workforce

Today the Welsh Government sets out its ambitious, long-term vision for the early years, childcare and play workforce in Wales.

Monday 22 September 2014

During a visit to Herbert Thompson Primary School, in Cardiff, Education Minister Huw Lewis will launch the Draft 10-year plan for the early years, childcare and play workforce in Wales.  The plan sets out how the Welsh Government proposes to support individuals who have a direct responsibility for the education or childcare of children in the early years (aged 0 to 7). The draft plan is open for public consultation until 15 December, with the intention of publishing the final plan in April 2015.

The plan seeks to address the workforce development needs of all types of registered early years, childcare and play provision, in both the maintained and non-maintained sectors. In 10 years’ time the aim is to have a highly-skilled workforce that:

• is highly regarded (a career of choice)
• understands how children learn and develop
• structures activities and time to support all children to develop to their full potential
• are proactive learners in their own right
• is bilingual.

Ahead of his visit to Herbert Thompson Primary School, where he will meet Flying Start and Foundation Phase staff and observe a training session, Huw Lewis said:

“The ages of 0-7 are a crucial time in every child’s development. It’s important, therefore, that individuals like those I will meet today, that play such a key role in supporting children during these important years, receive the right level of support, are highly motivated and skilled and feel that they are valued.      

“We’re determined to raise the status of careers in early years, childcare and play to a level which better reflects the vital role these practitioners play in supporting children’s development.

Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths added:

“We owe it to our future generations to get this right.  If we reach our goals we will improve the lives of young children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“We recognise the importance of these proposed changes and the time they will take to implement. It is for this reason we are setting out our expectations in the context of a cross-government, long-term plan and are consulting on our approach.”