CRC concluding observations 2023, paragraph 36

Noting with appreciation the various childcare services provided by the State, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Strengthen measures to enable working parents and caregivers to balance their professional and family responsibilities, including by allocating sufficient resources for childcare services, encouraging parents to take parental leave and ensuring access to affordable childcare options for socioeconomically disadvantaged families, families in rural and remote areas and families with irregular work schedules; (b) Expand eligibility criteria for State-subsidised childcare, such as the Childcare Offer and Flying Start childcare in Wales, and establish childcare strategies in Northern Ireland, the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies where such a strategy is not in place, to ensure that all children in socioeconomically disadvantaged situations have access to free childcare; (c) Train professionals working with and for children, including teachers, to identify “young carers”, and provide their families with the support necessary to relieve such children of their responsibilities; and allocate sufficient resources for implementing, and raising awareness of, the national identification card system in Wales to ensure that such children are identified and have access to support services.