The Flying Start programme where two-year-olds from more deprived areas of Wales benefit from 12 hours a week free childcare is set to expand. A further £10m investment in the scheme will mean an additional 2,200 children will benefit from Flying Start childcare in 2023-24.
At the moment Flying Start is only available to children aged two to three in the most disadvantaged parts of Wales and consists of free part-time childcare. The scheme is currently undergoing a phased expansion and will eventually be available to all two-year-olds in Wales.
Phase two will support over 4,500 more two-year-olds in Wales to access Flying Start childcare in 2023-24. In 2024-25, a further 5,200 two-year-olds will benefit from the scheme. A total of £46 million is being invested to expand Flying Start and there is a focus on improving Welsh-medium provision. Labour and Plaid had pledged to offer free childcare to all two-year-olds in Wales as part of their co-operation deal in the Senedd.
