Flying Start childcare expansion to focus on Flintshire’s most deprived areas

Flintshire Council will prioritise the county’s most deprived areas as it expands free childcare for two-year-olds under the next phase of the Welsh Government’s Flying Start programme.

Cabinet members will be asked next week to approve the roll-out of 197 new funded childcare places as part of Phase 3 of the Flying Start expansion.

Flying Start provides parenting support, health visiting, speech and language services, and funded childcare for eligible families.

In Flintshire, more than 440 two-year-olds already benefit from Flying Start childcare, with services now being extended in a phased approach.

The next phase will use local deprivation data to target support to areas of greatest need.

Communities such as Holywell West and Central, Shotton Higher, Sealand and Connah’s Quay will be among the first to benefit, based on their ranking in the Wales Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) and local demand for services.

Welsh Government aims to make 12.5 hours of funded, high-quality childcare available for all two-year-olds across Wales over time.

In Flintshire, the expansion is informed by a detailed analysis of deprivation and family need, alongside childcare capacity.

The Council’s report highlights the expected benefits of the programme, including improved school readiness, support for family wellbeing, and greater financial security for struggling families.

It will also help strengthen the local childcare sector, providing more sustainable income for providers.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Social Services and Wellbeing, Councillor Christine Jones, said the expansion would ensure that children in the county’s most disadvantaged communities receive the best start in life.

However, the report also warns of challenges, including:

• Limited childcare availability in some rural areas
• The need to grow Welsh-medium provision
• Ongoing work to ensure childcare quality standards are met.

Welsh Government is expected to provide further capital funding to help develop new childcare places where needed.

Cabinet members will consider the expansion plan at their meeting on Tuesday 17 June.