Grandparents to get £4,800 for looking after their grandchildren in election pledge

Grandparents could be paid up to £4,800 per year to provide childcare for their grandchildren, the Welsh Conservatives have pledged if they get into power at May's Senedd election.

Under the plans, parents will be able to choose between nominating a grandparent to look after their child, or to place their child in a traditional childcare placement like a nursery or with a registered childcare provider.

Nominated grandparents would receive a Grandparent Childcare Payment of £200 per child per month for up to two children in a single household.

The Welsh Conservatives have also confirmed that they will also extend the offer of up to 30 hours of free childcare per week to working parents of children aged nine months to four years of age. At present, only parents of three and four-year-olds in Wales can access 30 hours of free childcare.

Welsh Conservative group leader Darren Millar said: "At this election, I am committed to putting forward the most pro-family policy offer Wales has ever seen.

"After 27 years of failure, parents in Wales face the highest childcare costs in Britain. That must change.

"Our Welsh Conservative childcare offer recognises the vital role that grandparents play in delivering care for their grandchildren, extends access to more free childcare, and empowers parents to make the best choice for them and their family.

"These plans are affordable, deliverable, and will help to get Wales working."

The Senedd election takes place on May 7.