Dawn Bowden MS, Minister for Children and Social Care
I am pleased today to launch the Consultation on the Draft Child Minding and Day Care Exceptions (Wales) Order 2026 and the proposal for Voluntary Approval Scheme for Childcare, Playwork and Activity Providers.
The 2010 Exceptions Order sets out the circumstances where registration as a child minder or day care provider with Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) under the Children and Families Measure is not required.
When a provider is exempt from registration, they don’t have to comply with the Child Minding and Day Care Regulations or have regard to the National Minimum Standards, neither do they get inspected by CIW.
Some of the proposed changes being considered in the consultation are:
- Updating and clarifying the exceptions to align law and guidance.
- Limiting how many activities coaches or tutors can offer before they must register as day care providers.
- Introducing new age and time limits to some of the exceptions.
- Updating the exemptions around babysitters.
- Preventing registered child minders and day care providers whose registration has been suspended by CIW from operating under certain exceptions.
These proposed changes would be best met by replacing the 2010 Exceptions Order with a new Order specifically tailored to reflect the updated policy aims.
Alongside reviewing the exceptions, the Welsh Government has developed the concept of a Voluntary Approval Scheme for Childcare, Playwork and Activity Providers. The proposed Scheme would be for certain providers who are exempt from registration as a child minder or day care provider. The aims of the proposed Voluntary Approval Scheme are to:
- Enable eligible families to access financial support like Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit Childcare for a wider range of services.
- To verify the provider has met set approval criteria, including basic safety checks, which may offer some reassurance to parents about their choice of provider
- Help improve understanding of and support to the unregistered childcare sector.
I would welcome views from the public and those offering childcare, playwork and activities on:
- which providers should be exempt from registration,
- the development of a proposed Voluntary Approval Scheme for exempt providers and,
- what impact the changes to the exceptions and the development of a proposed Voluntary Approval Scheme would have on a range of factors including the Welsh Language.
We have worked closely with a wide range of stakeholders to understand how the 2010 Exceptions Order operates in practice, as well as the impact of any changes on various groups. Stakeholder engagement has also been instrumental in developing the concept of a proposed Voluntary Approval Scheme. Their input has supported and guided this policy development work, and I am grateful to all who have contributed to the process.
Your views will help shape future childcare policies in Wales by helping to ensure the exceptions are proportionate and informing the development of the proposed Voluntary Approval Scheme. All responses will be analysed and a summary published in Spring 2026.
This statement is being issued during recess to keep Members informed. Should Members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.