CIW_Young Person Manifesto briefing document_English

What are political parties promising for babies, children and young people in Wales?

Senedd Election – May 2026 Political parties are sharing their ideas before the Senedd Election in May 2026. This guide explains what the main parties say they want to do to help babies, children and young people in Wales.

Welsh Conservative Party They say they want to help families and make sure children get a good start in life. They want to support families and improve education.

They promise to:

Make childcare costs cheaper and free from 9 months old

Help grandparents who look after grandchildren

Improve reading, writing and maths in schools

Increase apprenticeships and job training

Improve mental health support for children

Stop families with children being put in hotels

Support young carers with travel and education costs

Reform UK They say they want to raise school standards and improve skills. They want to improve support for children who need extra help in school and for teachers to have more support.

They promise to:

Focus on core school subjects like English, maths and science

Improve support for children with Additional Learning Needs (ALN)

Increase specialist support in schools

Support children’s mental health and wellbeing in schools

Create more apprenticeships, including in rural areas

Recruit more health visitors to support babies and families

Welsh Labour Party They say they want to make life fairer and reduce child poverty. They want to help with the cost of living by offering cheaper transport and more childcare places.

They promise to:

Expand childcare and cheaper transport for young people

Improve support for children with Additional Learning Needs (ALN)

Reduce waiting times for mental health assessments

Provide free school meals

Support careexperienced children to stay close to home

Stop children being placed in bed and breakfast accommodation

Plaid Cymru They say they want to put children’s rights first. They say children should be listened to and treated fairly.

They promise to:

Make children’s rights part of the law

Provide affordable childcare and early education

Improve mental health services for children and young people

Reduce child poverty with extra financial support

Improve housing for families

Make it easier to make from children to adult services

Welsh Green Party They say they want children to be happy, healthy and safe. They say children’s futures are very important.

They promise to:

Expand free childcare

Focus on wellbeing as well as learning in schools

Improve mental health support and early help

Reduce child poverty and the cost of school life

Help families live in warm, safe homes

Provide cheaper or free buses for young people

Welsh Liberal Democrat Party They say they want early help and better opportunities, so problems don’t grow bigger later. They want to support children to move from school into further education, training or work.

They promise to:

Provide more free childcare from 9 months old

Support children who might struggle in school

Extend £1 bus fare for young people

Guarantee education or training after leaving school

Protect children’s rights in law