Council launches consultation to help shape future childcare provision in Carmarthenshire

Carmarthenshire County Council is inviting parents and carers, childcare providers, employers, children and young people, education providers and partner organisations to help shape the future of childcare services across the county.

The Council has launched a consultation to inform its Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA) for 2027 to 2032, a statutory assessment that helps identify whether there is sufficient childcare available to meet the needs of families in Carmarthenshire.

The consultation is open until 2 November 2027.

The assessment will support the Council in meeting its duties under the Childcare Act 2006 and will help build a comprehensive understanding of current and future childcare needs across the county.

The consultation aims to gather views from parents and carers, childcare providers, employers, children and young people, education providers and other stakeholders. Feedback will help identify unmet demand, barriers to accessing childcare, workforce recruitment and retention challenges, the sustainability of childcare provision, and the availability of Welsh-medium, bilingual and Additional Learning Needs (ALN) childcare services.

The findings will be used alongside demographic and childcare market data to inform Carmarthenshire's 2027 to 2032 Childcare Sufficiency Assessment and accompanying Action Plan. The final documents will be submitted to the Welsh Government and will help guide the future planning and development of childcare services across the county.

Carmarthenshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Integrated Health and Children and Adult Social Services, Cllr Jane Tremlett, said:

High-quality, accessible childcare plays a vital role in supporting children, families and communities across Carmarthenshire.

We want to hear from parents, childcare providers, employers, education providers, children and young people so we can better understand the childcare needs and challenges being experienced across the county.

The feedback we receive will help us identify priorities for the future and ensure that childcare services continue to meet the needs of families in Carmarthenshire."

There will be a range of opportunities to get involved, including surveys, interviews, focus groups and targeted engagement activities. Participants will be able to contribute in Welsh or English, and support will be available where required.

Residents can take part in the consultation by completing the online survey: https://ymateb.gov.wales/s/PN47J5/

For more information, visit the Carmarthenshire County Council website.