Hugely different provision in neighbouring LA's for summer childcare

[Twoweeksinaugust]

I really can't understand how our neighbouring LA are so well organised and efficient that every child aged 5-11 is being offered free childcare, with lunch provided, Mon - Fri, 10-3 for a month of the summer. Our LA is offering a few parent supervised play days in the local park.

We know how many dc go without a decent meal in the summer, this scheme could improve lives so much, plus give kids lovely play opportunities and a bit of structure whilst parents get a small break.

Would this blow your mind if you were local to it?

I have no kids but would gladly fund this kind of scheme because for some strange reason, you get less anti social behaviour if children are engaged in wholesome activities. Fewer bricks hurled from motorway bridges onto the traffic below, fewer supermarket trolleys on the railway - that kind of thing.

Interesting, is this unusual for Wales?

It does look like spaces are limited though: Pupils who attend the host school will be able to apply for spaces through the school via an online bookings system. Any spaces left will then be open to the public to apply.

You could ask your employer in advance as a special leave request.

Or share childcare with other parents both of which is I did when mine were young.

Is one area more deprived than the other? It’s easier to get top up grant funding if it’s a deprived area.

That’s a bit like saying why should are taxes fund anything tho isn’t it?

some people never access mental health support
never need a social worker
never need the police
don’t need the various local council departments
dont need funded childcare hours
don’t need a personal care allowance
don’t need attendance allowance or pip

the list goes on

Most jobs, it's not particularly doable to work 10:30-2:30 - if they hired you for 9-5, it's because that is the work there is.

Yes you can do shares with other parents but the 10-3 offer hasn't really helped you there.

It would just be nice if the offer wasn't totally aimed at people who don't work.

@Shinyandnew1 if you don't get your prefered school you can just drop the dc off at the big leisure centre every day and they get a place.

It's not normal for Wales no, but I wish it was!

Because we live in a collective society, paying for stuff you don't need that other people need is literally how it works. Undoubtedly they will also be paying for services they don't need which you do.

I'm a SAHM so our kids don't need summer camps, delighted to see such a great provision for those who need it, hopefully sourcing wraparound to make it work for parents who don't have flexibility in hours isn't too hard.

To add I know a school mum who is a health visitor and she said there is an element of safeguarding too as statistically some children are far more at risk of any domestic incidents in the holidays so providing HaF and other holiday schemes can be good for vunerable children who are regularly checking in with people - this only works of-course if these targeted families engage which is another issue.

It wouldn’t surprise me because neighbouring local authorities can have wildly different circumstances, priorities and pressures. In our local authority area the roads are very well maintained, rarely see a pot hole. In the neighbouring authority where I work, the roads are noticeably poorer.

Could be perfect if two parents and one starts earlier and does pick up and one’s later and they can arrange meetings around it!

is it really for all children or just means tested for poor children? If so it might be to keep them out of trouble/stop them being left alone, have some eyes on them for safeguarding

Food and Fun operates in most Welsh counties but provision does vary. Our school did it last year but couldn't staff it this year. Funding comes from Welsh gov via the local government association.

List of participating schools are here:

https://www.wlga.wales/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Rhestr-Ysgolion-2026-Schools-List.pdf

We use a club which is 9-4 and that's fine for adjusting hours/meetings around but 10-3 is starting to take the piss if you have a serious job of any sort. Let alone if you have a job that requires in person/on site attendance.

It would just be nice if some of the advantages of these clubs could be passed onto parents with proper jobs.

I don't mind paying for it but it would be lovely if some of the many wonderful looking activities around us would offer wraparound hours. 10-3 isn't even school hours!

I‘m in Cornwall and there is nothing like this. I don’t think the council does anything, except for the reading programme ere they get a swimming voucher if they read 6 books.

This is amazing.

If you/they really mean every child then I would object to the council spending my money on that.

I remember when our kids were babies/toddlers, my friend in south London had so many things free from her council - mummy yoga with creche, 1 o’clock clubs, crafts etc. In the north London council where I lived there was nothing. I remember her saying to me “you just haven’t looked hard enough” 😫

@KnickerlessParsons but why would you object? It's hardly costing the LA anything, they applied for Welsh Govt funding. If it means vulnerable children are safeguarded and get a decent meal, without being sinlged out as poor, and there's a good social mix and kids are left off the street and engaged, what's to object to?

Do you know where Welsh government funding comes from?

I think prospective parents should plan how they are going to look after their children in school holidays before they decide to have children. If you can’t afford children don’t have children (or have fewer).
LAs spend a phenomenal amount of money looking after older adults and children that parents should be looking after - I’d prefer they spend the money on potholes, bin collections and lots of other things that benefit the many rather than the few.

@KnickerlessParsons the amount of money WG waste is mindblowing, this will be a drop in the ocean. The fact is the funds are available and my LA seemingly can't be arsed to apply for them.

I don't disagree that people's dc are their responsibility, but if there's money to be spent I do favour some universal schemes. I'm fed up of seeing millions being ineffectively spent on sink estates with no outcomes, let's spread the offer to working parents and those just about managing but not in receipt of benefits as well.

The strange thing about the Haf programme in my (not small) town is that the majority of the summer camps are in more expensive villages that are a few miles from here.

Seems strange when most children eligible for Haf have parents who cannot drive and it’s unlikely many children in said expensive villages are eligible.

The whole situation is disgraceful & so short-sighted.
HAF clubs are precious & on an increasing basis vital to many, purely on the basis of having access to food.

However, our DC has SEN , now 12 years old. We have been recommended a number of “inclusive:SEN friendly “ activities over the years, ranging from art & crafts, roller skating, pirates, science, multi sports & more. Each & every time it’s “we cannot meet needs unfortunately “.
So we have always done our own thing. Cannot work , limited funds, but not limited enough to qualify for HAF. 24/7, 365 days a year- there’s no respite…
I am in a permanent state of being frazzled, wired awake day & night, sinking under the relentless paperwork …
Some here are only concerned for basic childcare, others like us would love this problem alone. That isn’t of course to say this isn’t a problem, but the issue is far more deep reaching than msny commenting here realise.

It’s all a postcode lottery. My own issue with the HAF program in my area is that it’s now meant I can’t get holiday club for my child. My DC has always attended an holiday club as it’s the only one around here that’s open from 8:30 to 5:30 and affordable but now we can’t get space because its filled with those on the HAF program and we don’t qualify. So there’s even no decent holiday clubs that one can even pay for.