Flying Start celebrates 10th anniversary

On Saturday 3 August Flying Start staff celebrated the 10th anniversary of the early years programme at the National Play Day event in Aberaeron.

Flying Start is the Welsh Government’s targeted early years programme for families with children under four years of age living in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Wales. It provides free, quality, part time childcare for 2-3 year olds; and enhanced health visiting service; access to parenting support, and support for speech language and communication.

The programme has now been running for ten years and in Ceredigion has worked with 1687 children and their families, with nearly 1000 receiving quality part-time childcare and 336 parents completing parenting courses. A total of £7.5m has been invested to date, with a further £1.3m invested in capital projects like Aberporth Nursery and the building in Llwyn yr Eos School in Penparcau.

Councillor Hag Harris, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Learning Services, Children and Young People’s Partnership said: “Flying Start has been a very successful programme over the last decade, helping an increasing number of families every year, the programme has made a real difference to families and has benefitted children by preparing them for the challenges and opportunities they will face as they get older.”

For more information about Flying Start please visit http://fis.ceredigion.gov.uk/flying-start/