Dawn Bowden, Minister for Children and Social Care
We are today publishing the Early Childhood Play, Learning and Care (ECPLC): Assessment Arrangements for 0-3-year olds in Wales to support our practitioners in delivering high-quality Early Childhood Play, Learning and Care (ECPLC) in Wales.
Child development is at the heart of our early childhood play, learning and care policies and provision.
The Early Childhood Play, Learning and Care (ECPLC): Assessment Arrangements for 0-3-year olds in Wales is designed to support the development, learning and well-being of all babies and young children from birth to age three. It values each baby and young child’s unique identity, background and experiences, and encourages practitioners to take a holistic, responsive approach to development, learning and care.
This guidance document aligns with the National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare in Wales, Flying Start provision and the Curriculum for Wales.
This resource should be used alongside other ECPLC resources to help practitioners with their assessments and observations which are responsive to babies and young children’s developing needs and interests.
We want to thank all those involved in the development of this resource, which have been produced by practitioners for practitioners.
This resource will remain in draft for the next year as we engage with the widest possible range of practitioners. We intend to publish final versions in September 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.