Policy Work

CIW Self Assessment of Service Statement

In early 2020 CIW will be asking childcare and play providers to use their online accounts to submit a Self Assessment of Service Statement (SASS). This will enable CIW to gather and update information they hold on childcare and play services. In addition, providers will be asked to submit a quality of care review, describing their own assessment of the quality of care provided and explaining how they monitor their own performance.

In November 2019 you will receive a letter from CIW with important information about CIW Online. This letter requires you to take action to activate an online account.

You must do this whether you have previously created an online account or not.

Your online account will make it much easier for you to work with CIW, providing one simple and effective way to submit information about any changes to your service.

In order to make your on-line account active, please look out for your letter and take action within the set timescales to follow the instructions and activate your account.   Mudiad Meithrin will be providing further information and updates on this in the coming weeks.

CIW have shared further information and frequently asked questions on their website.  

Childcare, Play and Early Years Workforce Plan (2017)

The Childcare, Play and Early Years Workforce Plan sets out Welsh Government’s ambition to develop a highly skilled childcare and play and early years workforce which is recognised as a highly regarded profession and career of choice, and one which society values for its contribution to our children’s learning and development.

Early Years Outcomes Framework (2015)

The Early Years Outcomes Framework has been designed to:

• provide a framework which will support the coordination of the work of different departments and key stakeholders in relation to early years
• ensure Welsh Government’s early years policies and programmes are making a difference
• help identify where further improvement is needed, and where Welsh Government will need to prioritise action in the short, medium and long term
• help individuals across the sector, at different levels, understand the contribution they make to achieving the outcomes
• support planning and evaluation locally.

From Monday 15 January 2018, the  Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (CSSIW) changed its name to the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW).

If providers or care partners have any paperwork or documents displaying CSSIW’s name, they will continue to be valid, but forms with guidance will include the new name over the coming weeks.

CIW contact details 

Changes to the National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare (January 2018)

There will be changes to staffing qualification requirements from September 2021.

The changes relate to Standards 13.6(DC) and 13.7(DC) Day Care, and concern the qualifications required for Persons in Charge and non-supervisory staff in regulated childcare and play services that are regulated for children aged 0 to 12 years.

The lead-in time for the childcare and play workforces to attain the required play qualifications has been set at September 2021.

Further details can be found on the Social Care list of Wales from the required qualifications to work in early years and social care services in Wales, and a SkillsActive list of the required qualifications to work in the playwork sector in Wales.

Providers can see the newsletter issued by the Welsh Government earlier this year.

‘Money talks’ as the saying goes, and undoubtedly, where childcare is in question, this is a common concern by parents / carers on the one hand and by childcare providers like Cylchoedd Meithrin and day nurseries.

So when Welsh Government announced (with the support of most opposition parties) that it would introduce 30 hours free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds whose parents work 16 hours a week or more as part of its programme in the run up to 2021, we gave a cheer! This is a really great opportunity for parents to take advantage of funded quality childcare and for providers or settings to receive remuneration and an hourly rate that is recognition of the high costs and work involved in providing a quality childcare service.

Statement by Kirsty Williams AM, Minister for Education and Julie Morgan AM, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services. 

'The Arad evaluation recently of the first year of early implementation published in November recognised that ‘the rate at which some of these providers are paid to deliver Foundation Phase Nursery is often lower than the rate paid to deliver childcare funded by the Offer.’ This reinforced the findings of all the  Childcare umbrella organisations that ‘Delivering a sustainable Foundation Phase Offer’ is a significant concern for the sector.' 

In response, the Welsh Government wishes to understand the impact that a differential funding rate will have on the future of Foundation Phase education, and also on the implementation of the Childcare Offer.  Therefore they intend to run a pilot project, in partnership with Flintshire County Council, to test the impact of a consistent funding rate for early education and childcare. The pilot will run for the Foundation Phase for 3 year olds in the spring and summer term 2019. An evaluation will be undertaken whilst the pilot is underway and we expect a report on the findings in winter 2019.

Haven’t been involved in the scheme so far?

1.The scheme is now available for eligible parents across Anglesey, Gwent, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbigh, Flint, Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Torfaen and Wrexham. It is available within selected areas in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot and will roll out in areas of Powys from January 2019 onwards and in Bridgend, Pembrokeshire and the Vale of Glamorgan from April 2019 onwards. If you are one of these areas, why not talk to a representative from Mudiad Meithrin to receive more guidance and support?

2. Look out for relevant developments on the web, Twitter and on Facebook. Attend meetings or forums that will be organised locally, by Mudiad Meithrin, by ‘Cwlwm’ or by a Local Authority.

3. Make sure you have a business plan in place, broadly that you know your monthly income and expenditure. Contact your Support Officer for assistance.

4. Fundraising is a reality for many childcare providers and a plan of regular fundraising events is required. There are lots of ideas available online and on social media – what are other locations in other areas of Wales doing?

5. Contribute any comments to the Welsh Government through the #TalkChildcare campaign. You may have views about the current 10-hour plan (or ‘Flying Start’ scheme). Help the Government to plan this correctly as the plan evolves.

6. Think about applying for the ‘Awards for All’ Lottery grant to improve the setting’s resources. Other sources are also available (The Health Lottery, Postcode Lottery, Aviva Community Fund, The Coalfields Regeneration Trust etc).

7. Make sure your staff have every opportunity to gain a qualification or skill with local and national opportunities. A place that invests in the skills of its staff is a rewarding place!

8. Get the support of your community (see point 4) to fundraise, promote your work, engage with stakeholders!

9. Do you transition successfully with your local schools? That is, is the relationship between your setting and the school good? There are a number of examples of childcare settings that provide a range of services including wraparound care  in conjunction with schools.

10.Keep in touch! Follow our facebook and twitter acccounts, and use our staff’s expertise.

For further information for providers click here  

We are interested in your experiences and ideas.  Please contact Eleri Griffiths to discuss current consultations.

Draft Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Code

Mudiad Meithrin wants to respond to the Draft Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Code. The Code contains regulations which apply to Cylchoedd Meithrin and Day Nurseries. The aim of the law is to improve support for children with ALN and to ensure that children and young people have the best chances in life.

Consultation documents, including an easy read version, are available here:

Mudiad Meithrin will respond by mid March 2019.

National Minimum Standards (NMS) for Regulated Childcare for Children up to the age of 12 years

The Welsh Government and Cwlwm wish to gather the views of childcare and play providers on the introduction of National Minimum Standards. 

Go to survey. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Y6R7WJL

The Welsh Government's vision is that there will be a million Welsh speakers by 2050. They have three strategic themes for realising this vision.

1. Increase the number of Welsh speakers

2. Increase the use of Welsh

3. Create favourable conditions - infrastructure and context

The Government's ambition is for the Welsh language to be used more extensively and it is committed to working towards a million people speaking Welsh by 2050 and to continue to encourage more people to use and speak Welsh in their daily lives.

Mudiad Meithrin has responded to several policy proposals regarding the Welsh language and these can be seen in the Past Consultations section.

Meithrin Miliwn – Mudiad meithrin’s response to Cymraeg 2050 - A million Welsh speakers

Please find below a copy of our recent Policy Newsletter.

This is a list of Mudiad Meithrin’s response to past consultations from 2017 to this day. For a copy of the responses listed below or if you would like to see our responses before 2017 please contact: eleri.griffiths@meithrin.cymru

2018

Childcare Funding (Wales) Bill

Food and nutrition in childcare settings - best practice guidelines

Response to Rapid Review of WESP

School funding in Wales – Mudiad Meithrin’s response

Legislative Proposal to Remove the Defence of Reasonable Punishment

The UK-EU Future Relationship

Brexit and our land: Securing the future of Welsh farming

Targeted Funding to Improve Educational Outcomes

Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee Inquiry into supporting and promoting the Welsh language

2017

Response to the Children, Young People and Education Committee - Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Bill

Response to the White Paper – Striking the right balance consultation document

Response to the S4C independent review

Call for Evidence – Preparing for a Welsh Language Bill

Response to First 1000 Days – The Children, Young People and Education Committee

Response to Welsh for Adults National Curriculum

Response – Statuory guidance in relation to Part 7 of the Act, Handling Individual Cases to Protect Children and Adults at risk

Mudiad Meithrin comments on White Paper Consultation - Local Government Reform

Meithrin Miliwn 2050 – Mudiad Meithrin’s response to Cymraeg 2050: Million Welsh speakers