MIKE HEDGES AM WELCOMES NEWS THAT CHILDREN CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM FLYING START

MIKE HEDGES AM WELCOMES NEWS THAT CHILDREN CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM FLYING START

New figures show that 37,628 children benefitted from Flying Start services in Wales during 2016-17.

MIKE HEDGES AM SAID…. I welcome the news that so many children are benefiting from Flying Start; I have visited many of the Flying Start centres in Swansea East and have seen first-hand how children develop skills so quickly as a result of the extra support. Flying start also provides support for parents and carers and again, I have met many parents and carers who have spoken of how their family have benefited from these schemes. I have previously called for the program to be extended to areas such as the Trallwn Primary School area. I shall continue to campaign for the programs extension to new areas.

The figure exceeded the expected target of 36,000 by 4 per cent.

Flying Start is the Welsh Labour Government’s targeted early years programme for families with children under 4 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; an enhanced health visiting service; access to parenting programmes; and support for speech language and communication.

Some of the other key statistics show:

• 88 per cent of offers of childcare in a Flying Start childcare setting were taken up during 2016-17, a small rise from 2015/16 (86 per cent).
• Flying Start health visitors worked with 25% of all children under the age of 4 during 2016-17.
• 94 per cent of children aged 3 and living in Flying Start areas were on roll at a maintained school (2016). This is a small increase from 93 per cent in 2015.
• 82 per cent of children living in Flying Start areas were fully immunised by their 4th birthday (2016-17). This is a slight decrease from 83 per cent in 2015/16.

  Further information about the Flying Start programme can be found here.