Anglesey’s childcare provision is benefitting from a successful £2.8m funding bid by Education Department staff.
New childcare provision on a number of the Island’s school sites has been developed using funding from the Welsh Government's Childcare Offer Capital Programme.
Two state-of-the-art cabins have already been built at Ysgol Morswyn, Holyhead, and Ysgol Pencarnisiog. These will offer childcare provision throughout the day, as well as holiday care.
Gofal Rhosfair, a new childcare provider at Ysgol Santes Dwynwen, has also started an after school club between 3:15pm-5:10pm.
The service will soon extend to full day care from 8.00am to 6.00pm, including school holidays. This childcare provision is also open to children beyond the school’s catchment.
The Childcare Offer Capital Funding Programme is managed by the Supporting Families Unit within the County Council’s Education Department.
Supporting Families Unit Manager, Bethan Hywel Jones, explained, ”The main aim of the capital programme is to support the co-location of the foundation phase and childcare provision whenever possible. This complements the Welsh Government's economy action plan, 'Prosperity For All', to introduce Community Learning Centres, which provide extended services of childcare, parenting support, family learning and community access to facilities organised around the school day.”
“By developing these projects and new all day childcare locations, we hope to provide a seamless transition between the foundation phase and the childcare offer.”
Education portfolio holder, Councillor Meirion Jones, added, “As part of this sustainable project, our aim is to serve Anglesey communities across the generations and ensure closer collaboration to achieve targets in education as well as tackling anti-poverty. We are using Welsh Government funding to provide new and long-term sustainable assets for communities and working to meet the needs of parents.”
The next stages of the project will see developments at Ysgol Y Tywyn and Ysgol Esceifiog.
Ends: 25/02/2020