Recycling guidance in Wales/ Canllawiau ailgylchu

Welsh Government have published the latest version of the Welsh Government’s best practice guidance, Collections Blueprint 2025. This helps guide local authorities to deliver services in relation to recycling.

Concerns raised by members and recommendations within the Independent Review of Childminding highlighted the inconsistency of approach across local authorities in relation to recycling and the requirements some placed on childminders have been financially challenging and impacted on childcare sustainability locally.

Coram PACEY Cymru has been working closely with Welsh Government to ensure the revised guidance takes into account the uniqueness of childminder setting and provides clarity and consistency to aid the approach of local authorities. We are hopeful this guidance will help address issues at a local level going forward alongside continued engagement work with Coram PACEY Cymru and cross-department work between the childcare team and waste/recycling team at a local level.

As we know local authorities have a statutory duty to assess the sufficiency of childcare and to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient childcare is available to meet the needs of families in their area. This is now more important than ever as the expansion of Flying Start continues with childminders having a key role in supporting the government to meet commitments, offering choice for parents while supporting and caring for children from domestic premises.

In section 6 of the guidance it now clearly states:

‘It is….crucial that all parts of national and local government work together to remove any barriers or concerns for childminders so that we can sustain and grow this vital part of the sector.

In support of this aim, we ask that all local authorities across Wales continue to take a pragmatic and considered approach, in terms of childminder waste collections, recognising that most childminders operate from premises that are first and foremost their home. In taking this approach, you are playing an important role in ensuring we mitigate any potential impact on provision and choice, increases in costs for parents and most importantly contribute to the sustainability and growth of childminders across Wales.’

Claire Protheroe, Head of Contracts and Projects for Coram PACEY said ‘We are pleased that revised guidance clearly addresses the issues that many childminders have raised with us. We have worked hard to ensure inclusion on relevant wording that will support the sector going forward and support childminder sustainability and viability of services.’

If you have any issues in this area you would like to discuss please contact us by email cymru@corampacey.org.uk.

Recent Articles

Keep up to date with everything that’s happening in the childcare sector

Socials

Get your daily does of all that’s going on in the childcare and early years sector