Families of all two-year-olds in Swansea can now benefit from
free childcare through the Welsh Government's Flying Start
scheme.
The local authority becomes the second in Wales after Merthyr
Tydfil to reach this key milestone.
Minister for Children and Social Care, , visited Swansea Children's
Centre today to celebrate the achievement and see first-hand how
high-quality childcare provision is making a difference to
families and children in the area.
Families reported highly positive experiences of receiving Flying
Start support in a national evaluation of the scheme published
this week. The report found Flying Start childcare was
consistently praised by participating families for supporting
socialisation, independence, confidence and school readiness
during their children's crucial early years.
The Welsh Government is investing an extra £25m this year to
expand Flying Start childcare, bringing Wales closer to universal
childcare for all two-year-olds. Flying Start provides fully
funded, high quality childcare for two-and-a-half hours a day,
five days a week.
The latest statistics show that between 2023 and 2025, the
programme exceeded its target of supporting 9,500 additional
two-year-olds. Childcare places were offered to over 13,400
children and families across Wales, with more than 10,000
children taking up a place.
Minister for Children and Social Care, said: “Our childcare
programmes make a real difference for children and their
families.
“Today's announcement is a key milestone in Flying Start's
journey and means every family in Swansea with a two-year-old is
now able to access high-quality childcare provision.”
“Across Wales, we have prioritised rolling out Flying Start
childcare to our more disadvantaged communities and made sure
provision is sustainable before extending the programme to reach
more two-year-olds.”
“This significant expansion for two-year-olds is part of a wider
package of investment in the early years. Our total budget for
high quality childcare this year is more than £150m.”
“We will continue to work with local authorities so that we can
give every child in Wales the best possible start in life.”
Swansea Council Leader said:
“We are very grateful to our colleagues in Welsh Government for
funding this initiative which is making a real difference to
young children and their families.
“I'm also proud that our team has worked hard to complete the
roll-out so no matter where you live in Swansea, all parents and
carers can now apply for Flying Start childcare across a range of
settings and through both the medium of Welsh and English.”
£30m of additional funding for childcare in 2025-26 was the
result of the budget deal between the Welsh Government and , leader of the Welsh Liberal
Democrats.
Notes to editors
