Child care difficulty (From Barry And District News)

Child care difficulty

BARRY parents are struggling with more than just bored children during the summer holiday.

Increasing child care costs in the Vale of Glamorgan are forcing some parents almost on to the breadline.

Carol Hembury, 42, of Boon Close, only has her daughter to keep entertained through the holidays.

But she knows how difficult it would be to find help if she was working. She said: "To get any money towards child care, you have to get a registered child minder, which is expensive.

"If I had more than one child, I don't think it would be worth working. Finding cheap but reliable child care is a nightmare."

The Vale of Glamorgan is providing a number of summer play schemes as a direct result of the National Assembly's Play Grant.

Most of them are integrated play schemes, some are provided through the Vale Council, and others are provided through the voluntary sector, including NCH Cymru.

The play schemes are an important part of the Vale of Glamorgan's strategy for play provision which will be developed and co-ordinated by a play development officer.

The play scheme at Ysgol Maes Dyfan, provides activities for children between the ages of five and 11, 5 days a week, from 10am-12pm, and continues from 1pm to 3pm.

This week, the kids got to see real fire engines, and a barbecue was also organised for them, as well as a bouncy castle.

The Maes Dyfan open access play scheme charges £1.50 per child a day, and this particular scheme has been running for twelve years in Barry.

There are 27 staff and five volunteers on board to help the kids enjoy themselves, but also remain safe.

The Ysgol Maes Dyfan scheme finishes at the end of this week, but there is a similar play scheme at Cadoxton House, which is due to last another two weeks. For further information, contact 01446 709811.