Flying Start centre set to move to new home

CHILDREN and families in Swansea will continue to get a Flying Start in life thanks to a major investment in moving a centre in the north of the city.

Part of the former Daniel James Community School is to become home to a Welsh-medium Flying Start centre after Swansea Council successfully bid for £275,000 of funding from the Welsh Government to relocate it from its current home at Penplas Family Centre. This means the availability of Welsh-medium places can increase dependent upon demand.

Cllr Christine Richards, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Flying Start has been very successful in Swansea for a number of years. It supports young children, tackles poverty and promotes pupil attainment at school which are all among the council’s top priorities.

“Having the centre at Daniel James will allow it to be co-located with health visitors and there will be space for parenting classes and crèche facilities too.”

Cabinet is being asked to approve the proposal for the centre to be relocated in Mynyddbach at the former community school when it meets on May 12.

There are a number of benefits to locating the centre in Mynyddbach, including the fact that it’s close to where many of the young children and their families live. It will also co-locate with YGG Tirdeunaw; the school which many of the youngsters will go on to attend.

Jen Raynor, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “The centre will also see a big boost to Flying Start provision through the medium of Welsh in Swansea. Currently there are only 12 places available in the current location. With it locating in Daniel James school so much more will be on offer to the children and their families.”

And she added: “A good education has been proved to be one of the most valuable ways that families can get out of poverty. Parents tell us they can see the difference Flying Start makes to young children.”

“Flying Start supports families to give their children aged 0-3 years every opportunity to begin their school lives ready and excited about learning.”

Flying Start is part of Swansea’s pledge to give every child the best start in life, getting parents ready for birth, children ready for nursery and then school.

Flying Start supports families by offering them child care, health visiting, parenting and language support so young children can grow up healthy and happy and are familiar with books, reading, writing and socialising by the time they start school.

Families eligible to take advantage of the centre in Mynyddbach will be contacted by their health visitors to discuss potential arrangements.