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More families access free childcare through Flying Start

More families access free childcare through Flying Start

In Wales, the Flying Start programme has exceeded its targets during the second phase of the Welsh Government's expansion plan, which launched in April 2023 and aims to offer funded childcare to all two-year-olds.
To date, more than 10,000 children have benefited from the scheme, surpassing the goal of reaching 9,500 additional children.
Dawn Bowden, minister for children and social care, said: "This significant expansion has exceeded our targets, bringing quality early years support to thousands more children.
"High quality early years provision helps to maximise child development outcomes and supports the best start in life.
"I'm immensely proud of our Flying Start workforce for making this possible as we work towards universal childcare for all two-year-olds."
Over the past two years, more than 13,400 children and families have been offered places, with 80 per cent taking up the offer in 2024-25.
Flying Start offers 12.5 hours of free, high-quality childcare each week for eligible two-year-olds.
The Welsh Government has invested an additional £25 million this year to expand the programme further, with a third phase expected to reach more than 4,000 additional children across Wales.
The scheme also supports the government's goal of reaching one million Welsh speakers by 2050, with more than 2,000 places in phase two taken up at Welsh-medium settings.
Mark Drakeford, cabinet secretary for finance and Welsh language, said: "It's encouraging to see more families choosing Welsh-medium childcare."
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