A mother of three, Emily Broughton, has expressed that relocating just 10 miles into England could potentially reduce her childcare expenses by over £1,000 each month. At 36 years old and residing in Monmouthshire, Emily has a three-year-old daughter and recently welcomed twins in August. She finds the disparity in childcare services between Wales and England frustrating, feeling unsupported by the current system.

Emily works for an environmental charity while her husband James is employed by NHS Wales. In England, families can access funded childcare for children as young as nine months, whereas in Wales, many parents have to wait until the term after their child turns three. “If we moved just a short distance into England, we would save approximately £1,000 to £1,400 a month,” she noted. The proposed move would keep them within commuting distance to work and close to family.

The couple planned for their second child to arrive when their eldest turned three, anticipating financial assistance for childcare. The unexpected news of twins was overwhelming for them. Previously, Emily paid around £900 monthly for part-time care of their eldest daughter, but she expects costs for the twins will be significantly higher.

“This will consume a large portion of my salary,” she explained. “Many families cannot survive on just one income anymore; they need immediate support.” Since September, her eldest child’s fees dropped to £300 a month now that she is three years old. While she appreciates the funding available at this age in Wales, she criticized the interim period before that support kicks in.

The Welsh government has established two funding initiatives for children aged two to four. The Flying Start Scheme provides 12.5 hours of childcare weekly for some two-year-olds in select areas of Wales and aims to expand access eventually. For three- and four-year-olds, parents can receive up to 30 hours of funded childcare weekly if they meet specific criteria.

In contrast, England is currently expanding its support systems. Working parents can now access 15 hours of funded care for nine-month-olds and have had 30 hours available for three- and four-year-olds since before September 2025.

Concerns regarding sufficient childcare availability and staffing persist as changes approach next September. Joeli Brearley from Pregnant then Screwed highlighted that while the Welsh system shows promise, it still suffers from inefficiencies that disadvantage single parents and those with multiple births.

Emily emphasizes the importance of supporting working parents who have invested time in their careers and advocates for more effective childcare policies in Wales to assist women in maintaining their careers regardless of their job type. A spokesperson from the Welsh government stated that their childcare offer provides up to 30 hours of funded care annually and remains accessible to those in training or education as well as employed parents.