The event, which took place in the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay, brought together key stakeholders from across the early years, education, health, social care sectors and political stakeholders. It served as a rallying call for a national conversation on how best to support children in their most formative years.
Our manifesto outlines 14 policy calls which speak to the wide range of issues faced by the sector, helping resolve immediate short term concerns, whilst looking to the medium and long term, building a future for childcare which is sustainable, supporting and enhancing the development of children in their early years for generations to come:
The 14 Key Policy Calls Are:
- Statutory Recognition of Early Childhood, Play, Learning and Care (ECPLC)
- Reform of Parental Leave and Support
- Sustainable Childcare Funding
- Accessible and Simplified Childcare Offer
- Strengthening Parental Support Services
- Ministerial Leadership and Accountability
- Terminology Reform
- Movement and Physical Development
- Inclusive and Anti-Racist Practice
- Focus on the First 1,000 Days
- Workforce Development
- Welsh Language Promotion
- Childcare Ratios
- Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Support
With these priorities, Early Years Wales envisions a system that values early childhood as a distinct and viral phase of life. In order to realise this ambition, the manifesto calls for coherent policy, sustainable investment, and political accountability.
Speaking ahead of the launch, David Godger, CEO of Early Years Wales, said
“This manifesto represents the collective voice of a sector that is vital to the future of young children across Wales. Our calls are practical and rooted in the lived experience of children, families, and professionals. We urge policymakers to take bold action to embed early childhood, play, learning and care (ECPLC) at the heart of government priorities.”
Early Years Wales