MANY childcare providers across Wales will be forced to close due to the unsustainable funding model imposed by the Welsh Government, the sector warned.

Lisa Owen, who has run the Chuckles nursery in Newport for more than 25 years, called for fair funding for providers and parents as she penned a 2,000-name Senedd petition.

Under the Welsh Government’s offer, working parents or those in eligible education or training can receive help towards the cost of childcare for three- and four-year-olds.

But providers receive a £6.40-an-hour rate which Ms Owen warned does not cover the true cost of delivering childcare, with many businesses being forced to run at a loss.

“Childcare providers should not have to fight to survive,” she wrote. “Families should not have to struggle to find care for their children – if we don’t act now, the future of childcare and early years education in Wales is at serious risk.”

In response to the petition, Dawn Bowden, minister for children and social care, said the Welsh Government will invest more than £150m in childcare in 2025/26.

Pledging to review the amount providers receive each year, Ms Bowden pointed to April’s £1.40 uplift in the rate which had been frozen at £5 for three years as inflation spiralled.

She also raised a 20% uplift in allowable food costs and 100% small business rates relief.

But Ms Owen was extremely disappointed by the minister’s response, saying she has to subsidise the childcare offer at the risk of losing her business.

She asked: “Why are childcare providers having to fund the difference between the rate the Welsh Government has decided and the rate the setting needs to charge to be sustainable?”

The petitioner said: “We are not asking for an increased rate but for the Welsh Government to give us back our businesses by allowing us to charge shortfalls if required, so we can protect the longevity of the business and the future jobs of our teams.”

Ms Owen warned the flat rate and inability to charge for the shortfall meant she lost income of about £75,000, including £50,000 earmarked for a disabled toilet extension.

She said: “It is getting increasingly annoying that the minister keeps writing that the rate was increased by 28% but missing out that in April 2022 the rate was frozen for three years.”

The business owner pointed out that wages increased by 37% in the same period and the UK Government raised employer national insurance contributions (NICs) from April.

She told the Senedd’s petitions committee her award-winning nursery paused investment and will no longer be able to take on apprentices nor pay the real living wage.

In a follow-up letter, the campaigner said: “These all stopped because the Welsh Government will not allow me to charge what I need to be sustainable.”

Ms Owen wrote: “Everyone I have spoken to outside the Welsh Government completely understands our position and how simply this can be rectified. I hope you can see how unreasonable it is to expect a business to support your scheme then be destroyed by it.”

Her nursery was one of a handful in Wales to score “excellent” in all six areas of a joint Care Inspectorate Wales and Estyn inspection in 2023.

“I am not rich,” she said. “Nurseries are no longer ‘honey pots’ due to the huge amount of regulations we have to adhere to and the training we have to fund.

“Everyone is quick enough to say we are expensive but they are expensive to operate: you can’t cut staff, turn the heating down, buy cheaper materials.

“It’s a passion and we do what we do to survive.”

The National Day Nurseries Association Cymru welcomed the £1.40 increase but warned the £6.40 rate was still expected to leave most private nurseries with a shortfall.

The effective rate for childcare providers ranged from £7 to £10 an hour, according to an Early Years Wales report which warned of pressures from wage growth, inflation and NICs.

One provider told the umbrella organisation: “Rhetoric alone won’t change outcomes for children. Investment, collaboration and a long-term commitment to early years support will.

“Ministers must now translate their words into tangible actions that ensure every child in Wales has the strongest possible start in life.”

At its meeting on July 14, the Senedd’s petitions committee decided to write to the minister, seeking a response to Ms Owen’s concerns while keeping the petition open in the interim.

YOUNG people from Pembrokeshire experienced the adventure of a lifetime in May, thanks to a unique nautical programme designed for those in care, care leavers, and their families.

The Voyages to Positive Destinations initiative took place on the 27th and 28th of May aboard Faramir, a 22.35m Bermudan Ketch owned by the Cirdan Sailing Trust. The tall ship was moored at Hobbs Point in the Cleddau Estuary, ready to welcome participants for an inspiring exploration of life at sea.

The event was organised through a partnership between Tall Ships Wales Trust, the Cirdan Sailing Trust, and the Dragon Darwin Experience, with generous support from the National Lottery Community Fund, the Port of Milford Haven, and West Wales Freemasons.

First-time sailors

On the first day, 19 young people and adults from local families—alongside representatives from Pembrokeshire County Council—stepped aboard for a Nautical Medley. The experienced crew led a hands-on tour of the ship, both above and below deck, which included a scavenger hunt, knot-tying workshops, and open discussions about sailing and life at sea.

Meanwhile, the Darwin Centre transformed the ship’s galley into a temporary marine biology lab, offering families the chance to explore ocean life up close—from drifting plankton and seaweed snacks to shells and mermaid’s purses.

That afternoon, Faramir set sail with 17 passengers for an overnight voyage. The group fully immersed themselves in ship life—taking turns at the helm, helping to set sails, keeping the galley tidy, and standing night watch while moored off Dale Bay.

Science on the sea

The following day, a new group including six young people joined for a short taster sail along the Cleddau. They explored the vessel, met the crew, and shared homemade cake before joining the Darwin team for more hands-on marine science.

Using a fine-mesh plankton net, participants collected zooplankton samples and recorded environmental data including weather, sea conditions, salinity, GPS location, and vessel speed. The ship’s galley once again became a floating lab, where microscopes were used to identify the tiny marine species gathered.

That evening, Faramir moored at Neyland Marina for an open ship event, attended by around 30 project partners and local dignitaries.

Looking to the future

The Voyages to Positive Destinations programme will culminate this autumn with a longer coastal voyage around southern England, aimed at young adults preparing to leave care.

The Tall Ships Wales Trust hopes to offer more of these transformative experiences in Pembrokeshire, connecting young people with the region’s maritime heritage and building skills, confidence, and curiosity through adventure.

Paula Holt from the Tall Ships Wales Trust said: “For many of these young people, this was their first time experiencing life at sea. Watching them build confidence, work together as a crew, and discover the hidden world of marine life was truly inspiring. Opportunities like this can create lasting positive memories and open new horizons.”

Net Zero school project praised for quality and collaboration

YSGOL GYMRAEG Bro Penfro, Pembrokeshire’s first Net Zero Carbon school, has won two prestigious awards recognising the quality, sustainability, and value of its construction.

Since opening in September 2024, the £13.9 million Welsh-medium school has been widely praised by pupils, staff and the wider community. Now, it has earned top honours at two major national awards:

• Delivering Value Award at the Constructing Excellence in Wales Awards 2025
• Project of the Year at the 2025 Welsh Government Education Buildings Awards

The awards celebrate excellence in design, innovation and teamwork across the construction and education sectors. Judges highlighted the school’s delivery under tight financial and time constraints, as well as the strong collaboration between the council, contractors and other partners.

A model of partnership working

Commenting on the success, judges at the Education Buildings Awards said: “The success of this project, despite budgetary pressures, a tight programme, and a constrained site, is born from the close, professional, respectful and collaborative relationships between stakeholders. It is something to be celebrated.”

‘A credit to all involved’

Cllr Guy Woodham, Pembrokeshire’s Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, said: “I am delighted with these awards. They reflect the consistently strong work being done to improve our school learning environments, and are a credit to everyone involved in the project.
The school is a real achievement for Pembrokeshire, delivered despite significant challenges.”

Sustainable design and community impact

Robert Williams, Area Director for Morgan Sindall Construction, added: “To see Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Penfro recognised with not one but two awards is incredibly rewarding and testament to the collaboration between our teams, Pembrokeshire County Council, and the Welsh Government.

“As Pembrokeshire’s first Net Zero Carbon school, we’ve delivered first-class educational facilities while setting new standards for environmental responsibility in school construction.”

Work on the school began in March 2023, with the keys handed over to Executive Headteacher Dafydd Hughes in July 2024. The school currently has 160 pupils enrolled.

The project was funded through the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme and Pembrokeshire County Council.

Caption: Celebrating the two awards for Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Penfro are, left to right, Council Leader Cllr Jon Harvey, Headteacher Dafydd Hughes and Steven Richards-Downes, Director for Education (Pic: Herald).