Dawn Bowden MS, Minister for Children and Social Care
I am pleased to publish the Summary of Responses to the consultation on the exceptions to childcare registration and the proposal for a Voluntary Approval Scheme, along with our next steps for taking this work forward.
The consultation was launched on 11 August 2025 and closed on 3 November 2025. It was shared widely to ensure it reached a broad and diverse range of organisations and individuals involved in childcare, playwork and activities and related sectors across Wales, as well as parents and families.
A total of 97 written responses were received from a wide range of individuals, organisations and stakeholders. In addition, officials held four focus groups: two with parents, one with registered providers and one with unregistered providers, involving 35 participants in total.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to consider and respond to the consultation. I would especially like to thank all of the members of our Exceptions Order Advisory Group who have helped to shape the Child Minding and Day Care Exceptions (Revocation and Transitional Provision) (Wales) Order 2026 (“the 2026 Order”) and development of a Voluntary Approval Scheme. A summary of responses to the consultation is available here: Exceptions to childcare registration and the proposal for a Voluntary Approval Scheme | GOV.WALES
The Welsh Government also commissioned Children in Wales to undertake engagement sessions with young people, giving them an opportunity to share their views on key issues raised in the consultation. Although these workshops did not formally form part of the consultation, they provided valuable insight. Three workshops were held in different locations with young people aged 10–25, and the Children in Wales report is published alongside the summary of responses.
Following the consultation, the Welsh Government proposing to make changes to the exceptions to childcare registration and the further development of a Voluntary Approval Scheme. The proposals relating to the exceptions will help ensure that oversight of childcare, playwork and activity provision in Wales is proportionate in determining which providers are not required to register. The development of the Voluntary Approval Scheme aims to allow some exempt providers to seek approval under the scheme. Overall, these proposals aim to promote child centred, safe and accessible provision that meets the needs of children and families. Together, these proposals aim to widen: affordable and flexible childcare; play and activity options for families; children’s access to enriching opportunities; access to financial assistance for parents; and provide reassurance that providers meet appropriate registration standards or verified eligibility criteria for approval.
The changes to the exceptions are set out in the 2026 Order which will be laid today. It is anticipated that the 2026 Order will be made on 1 April 2026, come into force on 1 April 2027 and is fully enforceable by 1 April 2028 following a one‑year transitional period. The Welsh Government intends to publish guidance to support understanding of the 2026 Order before it comes into force.
For the Voluntary Approval Scheme, the next stage of work will be to refine the details of the scheme taking account of the responses to the consultation. We will be working towards an implementation date of April 2027.