Written question WQ91022

The Welsh Government’s ambition to develop a skilled childcare and play workforce that is regarded as a career of choice, is set out in our 10-year Childcare, Play and Early Years workforce plan.

To support attraction and recruitment into the sector we are working with our strategic partner, Social Care Wales to run their WeCare Wales Framework. This includes dedicated childcare and playwork campaigns and a jobs portal.

In addition, Social Care Wales also deliver the free Introduction to Childcare course which provides an overview of working in the sector, offering an insight into career options and encouraging people to consider a career in the sector. WeCare Wales Ambassadors attend courses and work across Wales to raise the profile of working in childcare and help educate people about the different career options and progression opportunities available.

From January 2024, the Introduction to Childcare course has also been taken into schools and is aimed at those young people making decisions on their careers. It is anticipated that the course will reach over 300 young people between January and March 2024. This young person strand will also include presentations for those who work with young people, including teachers and careers advisers, to ensure they are informed of career opportunities and qualification pathways into the sector.

Our aim with these is to attract people with the right skills and behaviours into the sector, to support employers to advertise vacancies and to acknowledge the hard work, dedication and responsibility of existing childcare staff.