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Welsh government allows funding for related children

By Rachel Lawler

Childminder related children funding baby
From September 2018 onwards, childminders in Wales will be able to claim funding for related children 鈥 as long as the care is not provided in the child鈥檚 home.
 
Policy change
Huw Irranca-Davies, minister for children, older people and social care, . He said: 鈥淥n balance, I have decided to change the policy for the Childcare Offer to allow registered childminders to receive funding for the care of a child who is also a relative.鈥
 
However, he added: 鈥淭he guidance will set out that childminders must be registered with CIW [Care Inspectorate Wales] to be able to access the offer and that the care cannot be provided in the child鈥檚 home.鈥
 
Irranca-Davies said that this would be an interim measure and that the Child Minding and Day Care Exceptions (Wales) Order 2010 would need to be updated in the longer term.
 
Parents, providers and politicians
The Welsh government said that this change is a result of 鈥渞epresentations from parents, providers, organisations and Assembly Members鈥.
 
30-hours in Wales
The Welsh government announced the update as part of its roll-out of the 30-hours offer, which is still being trialled in Wales. Seven local authorities in Wales are already offering the 30-hours scheme, with another seven due to join in September 2018.
 
The remaining eight council areas will need to wait until after the pilot schemes are completed before the 30-hours offer is fully rolled-out across the country.
 
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