FUNDED CHILDCARE: Swansea families set to benefit as Welsh Government pumps £55m into expansion

Hundreds more two-year-olds across Wales will get funded childcare under a new cash injection — with Swansea already among the first areas to offer it.

Hundreds more families across Wales are in line for funded childcare after the Welsh Government announced a £55 million investment.

The money will speed up the rollout of 12.5 hours of funded childcare a week for all two-year-olds, delivered through councils including in Swansea.

Swansea was the second area in Wales to offer the scheme to every two-year-old, after Merthyr Tydfil, with Newport following soon after.

Wrexham has now joined that list, becoming the first North Wales authority to reach the milestone.

The £55m forms part of the Welsh Government’s First Supplementary Budget for 2026-27.

It includes £10m of capital funding to expand and improve childcare settings, aimed at boosting the quality and number of places available.

Ministers say the cash will help providers manage rising demand and stay afloat financially, while also supporting Welsh-medium childcare.

That ties into the long-standing target of reaching one million Welsh speakers by 2050.

The investment is a step towards the government’s wider promise of 20 hours of funded care a week for every child aged nine months to four years old.

At full rollout, ministers claim that offer will be the most generous anywhere in the UK.

Sioned Williams, the Plaid Cymru Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Equality, who holds the childcare brief, said the move showed the government was “accelerating our commitments to the families of Wales.”

“Childcare costs in Wales are the highest in the UK and I am determined to help families all over Wales, while also supporting children’s development,” she said.

She added that she was “particularly pleased” Wrexham was now expanding its offer, and that the government would keep working with councils to roll it out everywhere.

Research by Coram Family and Childcare last year found Wales had the highest holiday childcare costs of the British nations, lending weight to her claim.

A new expert steering group will advise on the next stages of the rollout, focusing on training enough staff, digital applications and improving access for families.

The funding lands just days after the policy behind it caused chaos in the Senedd.

Reform UK tabled a debate on 11 June demanding the new Plaid government publish full costings and a timetable for its childcare offer within its first 100 days.

But the motion was amended to point out that Reform’s own election manifesto contained no childcare commitments — and in a tangle that drew mockery, 11 Reform members ended up voting for the amended motion attacking their own party.

Reform has claimed the full childcare offer could cost between £388m and £710m a year, well above the roughly £400m figure Plaid has cited.

The latest announcement also marks a change of guard, with funded childcare milestones celebrated earlier this year by the then Labour government’s children’s minister, Dawn Bowden.

Welsh Labour lost power to Plaid Cymru at May’s Senedd election and now sits in opposition.

The party gave the funding a cautious welcome.

Lynne Neagle, Welsh Labour’s spokesperson for children, education and lifelong learning, welcomed the news that Wrexham would offer free childcare to all two-year-olds, and said she hoped more councils would follow.

She said the previous Welsh Labour government had worked to expand Flying Start provision across Wales, and that it was “great to see the government commit to our manifesto pledge and continue this work.”

But she said questions remained. “We await further information on the government’s supplementary budget, but as it stands there are still many unanswered questions around the funding commitments,” she said.

Flying Start is the Welsh Government’s flagship early-years programme, offering childcare, parenting support and health visiting to families with young children.

Funded childcare for two-year-olds is being expanded in phases, with the latest cash intended to widen access ahead of the next academic year.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Swansea becomes second area in Wales to offer Flying Start childcare to all two-year-olds
How the city reached the milestone in February.

Reform members split in childcare row as Plaid policy ‘could cost £710m’
The Senedd debate that descended into confusion.

South west Wales politicians take key roles in first Plaid Cymru cabinet
How Sioned Williams became Deputy First Minister.

Free childcare scheme to expand across Swansea says council
What the funded hours mean for two- and three-year-olds in the city.

COAL TIP SAFETY: Welsh Government to revise tip boundary above demolished Godre’rgraig school this autumn — as council launches new public information hub

The tip boundary above the former Godre’rgraig school — evacuated in 2019 and later demolished after a geotechnical report identified landslide risk — is to be officially revised by the Welsh Government this autumn, Neath Port Talbot Council has confirmed.

The disclosure was made in a press release announcing the launch of a new public information hub bringing together technical reports on every known coal and quarry tip across the county borough.

For the first time, residents can read the specific technical reports relating to the tips above the former Godre’rgraig school — a site at the centre of one of the most contested coal tip safety decisions in recent Welsh history.

Pupils at Godre’rgraig Primary School have been taught in temporary portakabins in Pontardawe since the original building was closed in July 2019. The Cilmaengwyn tip above the school had been identified as posing a medium risk of landslide. The school building was eventually demolished.

A subsequent proposal to merge Godre’rgraig with Alltwen and Llangiwg primary schools into a single ‘super school’ at Parc Ynysderw, Pontardawe, was scrapped in 2022 after community opposition and a High Court ruling that found the council had failed to properly assess the impact on Welsh-medium education.

Godre’rgraig pupils have remained in portakabins ever since. The council has applied to the Welsh Government for funding to build a replacement school — but the bid has run into difficulties, with officials reportedly assessing it as if it were for a brand new school rather than a replacement.

In September 2025, then-opposition Plaid Cymru MS Sioned Williams — now Deputy First Minister in the new Plaid Cymru-led Welsh Government — accused the then-Labour First Minister Eluned Morgan of giving a “shameful” answer in response to questions about the delay. Welsh Labour’s then-Education Secretary Lynne Neagle later agreed to visit the school.

Councillor Wyndham Griffiths, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Transport and Connectivity, said the technical reports being published on the new website set out the basis for the original decision.

He said: “The reports set out the risks of movement on the hillside next to the former Godre’rgraig school building had it remained open for children or other users.”

He added: “Following the agreed recommendations of the Council, consulting engineers, and the Mining Remediation Authority, the Welsh Government will revise the tip boundary shown on its national register in its next update in autumn 2026.”

The boundary revision now falls to the new Plaid Cymru Welsh Government, which took office on 13 May following the Senedd election. First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth leads a minority administration after Plaid won 43 of 96 seats. Sioned Williams — who represents Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd, the constituency that includes Godre’rgraig — has championed the school’s cause from opposition for years, and as Deputy First Minister now sits in the cabinet that will sign off the boundary revision.

Community campaigners have raised questions about how the Godre’rgraig case has been handled. A group calling itself Save Our Schools has been publishing a detailed investigation series on social media, which it says raises concerns about how the tip boundary has been recorded and how that information has been used in subsequent decisions about the site.

Swansea Bay News has asked Neath Port Talbot Council for a response to the specific points raised by the campaign group.

The launch of the new web hub comes against a backdrop of significant change in how coal tips are regulated in Wales. Landmark coal tip safety legislation came into force requiring modern monitoring and inspection, and the Welsh Government has confirmed plans to establish a new Disused Tips Authority for Wales.

From April 2027, that new body will take on responsibility for inspecting disused tips across the country — a role currently handled through a combination of the Welsh Government’s National Coal Tip Register, the Mining Remediation Authority (formerly the Coal Authority) and local councils.

Neath Port Talbot has one of the highest concentrations of disused coal tips in Wales, many of them close to homes, roads and rivers. Earlier this year the council secured £3.6 million in Welsh Government funding — part of a wider £80 million programme — to inspect and maintain more than 620 former coal tip sites across the county borough.

The funding is supporting a dedicated Tip Management Team, ongoing collaboration with the Mining Remediation Authority, and targeted mitigation works.

Cllr Griffiths said: “Safeguarding communities from unsafe coal tips is vital. This new online resource is part of our commitment to keeping residents informed about the work being undertaken.”

He added: “Combined with the funding we have secured, it demonstrates our proactive approach to managing coal tip safety and addressing the challenges posed by the sites. We hope this provides reassurance to residents that their safety remains a priority.”

The new resource is at www.npt.gov.uk/coal-tips.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Minister agrees to visit Godre’r Graig school after six years in portacabins
Education Secretary Lynne Neagle agrees to visit after Plaid Cymru MS Sioned Williams raises the issue in the Senedd.

‘Shameful’ answer from First Minister on replacement for demolished Swansea Valley school
Sioned Williams MS accuses the First Minister of playing politics with the future of Godre’r Graig Primary School.

£3.6m secured to make more than 620 coal tips safe in Neath Port Talbot
Welsh Government funding supports a new Tip Management Team and targeted mitigation works.

New data reveals rising coal tip risk in Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot
Three Godre’rgraig coal tips reclassified to Category D — the highest risk level requiring the most frequent inspections.

Welsh Government defends curriculum rollout as opposition warns of ‘falling standards’

Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle MS told the Senedd that the curriculum, now being taught across all schools, was “transformative” and designed to ensure “every child in Wales deserves the best start in life.”

She said personalised assessment data was already showing improvements in reading and numeracy, with English reading attainment higher across all year groups compared with 2022/23.

“Where educators are getting this right, they are raising the bar for learners,” Ms Neagle said. “Our national support is about having high expectations for our learners, and giving practitioners the tools, support, and confidence to help our children and young people achieve their ambitions.”

The Cabinet Secretary highlighted a £44m support package, including £20m over three years for literacy and numeracy, and £1.4m to strengthen computing and digital skills.

Estyn’s findings

A thematic survey by Estyn, published in September 2025, found that while many schools were embedding the new curriculum effectively, there were still “wide variations” in classroom practice. Inspectors highlighted the need for stronger collaboration between primary and secondary schools, more targeted support for early literacy, and a sharper focus on reading skills.

Conservative criticism

The Welsh Conservatives argue the curriculum is failing to deliver.

Natasha Asghar MS, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, said Estyn’s findings showed too many pupils were not reaching their potential, with poor teaching and inconsistent maths standards highlighted as key concerns.

“Labour can pat themselves on the back over their new curriculum, but the reality is school standards continue to fall,” Ms Asghar said. “Welsh children aren’t getting the education they deserve, and that’s down to 26 years of Labour mismanagement.”

The Conservatives also criticised what they called “skewed priorities” in funding, pointing to £12m allocated to music compared with £8.7m for maths, literacy, science and technology.

Plaid Cymru’s view

Plaid Cymru have warned that the reforms risk “patchy delivery” without stronger national direction and a clear workforce strategy. The party has called for more investment in teacher recruitment and retention, and for literacy, numeracy and the Welsh language to be given sharper focus.

Reform UK’s stance

Reform UK have branded the Curriculum for Wales “ideologically driven” and called for a return to more traditional subject‑based teaching. The party argues the reforms are confusing for parents and teachers and risk lowering standards by moving away from clear benchmarks in maths, science and literacy.

Liberal Democrat position

The Welsh Liberal Democrats say they support the principles of the new curriculum, but warn that underfunding and staff shortages risk undermining its delivery. They have called for smaller class sizes, more specialist teachers in maths and science, and stronger mental health support for pupils to ensure the reforms succeed.

Curriculum for Wales explained

The Curriculum for Wales was introduced in 2022 and is now being taught across all year groups. This September, the first cohort of pupils under the new curriculum entered Year 10, beginning work towards qualifications under the new 14–16 Learner Entitlement.

The government says the reforms are designed to give schools more flexibility to shape lessons around four key purposes: to develop ambitious, capable learners; enterprising, creative contributors; ethical, informed citizens; and healthy, confident individuals.

#curriculum #CurriculumForWales #education #Estyn #lessons #LynneNeagleMS #NatashaAsgharMS #schoolLessons #schools #teaching #WelshGovernment

Campaigners condemn ‘appalling scandal’ over autism provision in Llanelli

A report commissioned by the council has found that at least 115 children in Carmarthenshire currently have no suitable education provision, and others face waits of up to three years for a formal diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).

The findings have prompted strong criticism from families, campaign groups, and Labour representatives in Llanelli, who accuse the Plaid Cymru-led administration of failing in its statutory duty to vulnerable pupils.

The calls for urgent action come as the council confirms its intention to build a new school for Ysgol Heol Goffa, a specialist centre in Llanelli currently operating above capacity.

The new facility — approved after a long-running campaign and a petition with more than 9,000 signatures — will eventually accommodate 150 pupils, though campaigners argue this figure is too low to meet rising demand.

Shaun Greaney, Lliedi ward councillor, said: “The situation faced by children with autism and their families in Llanelli is an appalling scandal. In my view, there has been shocking neglect of their needs. Early intervention is essential to give these children the life chances they deserve. Yet the county council seems to have no clear plan, no timescale for action, and no answers to the problem, which is growing in scale.”

Education campaigner Becki Gilroy, whose daughter Millie attends Ysgol Heol Goffa, added: “Autistic children like my daughter Millie need specialist centres of excellence. Families need a more enlightened approach — not for their children to be placed in what can sometimes amount to not much more than a babysitting service.”

Campaigners have called for wider implementation of ‘Option 4’, the full recommendation from the council’s commissioned report, arguing that partial adherence will still leave many children without the support they need.

Councillor Deryk Cundy, Labour group leader on the county council, said: “I fear the education system in Carmarthenshire is in something of a crisis and could, in future years, collapse unless there is a clear strategy going forward. Most of our ASC provision schools are already full, with many children on waiting lists and more undiagnosed in inappropriate mainstream settings.”

He added: “Schools are working incredibly hard to help children with ASC, but to ignore the situation would be incompetence by this Plaid administration and is worrying in the extreme.”

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Ysgol Heol Goffa redevelopment plan approved by council
The specialist school in Llanelli is set to receive a long-awaited new building for up to 150 pupils.

Families urge better ASC support in Carmarthenshire schools
Parents say mainstream classrooms are struggling to meet growing needs of undiagnosed pupils.

Funding concerns ahead of Welsh Government change

Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith said the delay in approving the new Ysgol Heol Goffa project has placed funding at risk.

“When I last spoke to Lynne Neagle MS, the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Education, she reassured me that money is still on the table — potentially around 75% of the cost. But the council will need to complete the required three-stage process to unlock it,” she said.

Ms Griffith also raised concerns about the wider shortage of suitable ASC provision:

“We know the existing units have next to no spare capacity. Families have had to put their lives on hold to care for their children because the proper provision is not there. It is as if all the odds are stacked against these pupils and their families. There is a duty to stand up for them and ensure better outcomes than at present.”

Senedd elections in May could result in a change of government, with campaigners fearing that future funding may be less generous than current commitments.

#ASC #AustismSpectrumCondition #Autism #CarmarthenshireCouncil #CllrDerykCundy #CllrShaunGreaney #HeolGoffa #Llanelli #LynneNeagleMS #NiaGriffithMP #PlaidCymru #WelshGovernment #WelshLabour #YsgolHeolGoffa