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Flying Start

Flying Start logo
Flying Start is a programme for families with children who are 0-4 years of age.  It is targeted at certain postcodes across Powys. Check your eligibility below.

What Flying Start Means 

Flying Start includes four core elements - high quality funded childcare, family support through Incredible Years programmes, intensive Health Visitor support, and support for early years language development.

  • high quality funded, part-time childcare for 2-3 year olds

Flying Start provides quality childcare which is offered to parents of all eligible 2-3 year olds for 2 and a half hours a day, 5 days a week for 39 weeks. In addition, there should be at least 15 sessions of provision for the family during the school holidays.

  • Access to Parenting Programmes

Every family with a Flying Start child must be offered formal parenting support at least on an annual basis. This can be in groups or one to one in the home with a mix of formal and informal support depending on need.

  • An enhanced Health Visiting service

The primary function of the Flying Start Health Visitor is to support the family in the home, assessing both the child and the family (in terms of high, medium and low risk). Flying Start Health Visitors should continually assess those families identified as medium and high risk, and make appropriate referrals.

  • Speech, Language and Communication

Every family in a Flying Start area should have ongoing access to an appropriate language and play group. From this, a more targeted approach based on assessment and referral can be taken where there is evidence of additional need.

Outreach

Some of Powys' Family Support Services are provided in partnership between Flying Start and Families First.  This means that, although families in Flying Start areas do get more specialised and intensive support, families who would benefit from similar support, but do not live in a Flying Start area, are able to access them via Families First.

Welsh Government Expansion

As part of the Welsh Government's commitment to expand Flying Start to more families across Wales, we can now announce that families living in the following areas may be able to benefit from 12.5 hours of funded high quality childcare a week at one of our approved Flying Start childcare providers in Powys. Areas of Welshpool, Llandrindod South, Howey, Disserth and Trecoed, Banwy, areas of Brecon (St Mary 1 and S David Within) and areas of Ystradgynlais (Abercraf, Tawe Uchaf, Ynyscedwyn). If you live in or near to these areas, please check your postcode to see if you are eligible. For high quality funded, part-time childcare for 2-3 year olds.

Do you have a child aged 0 - 3 years 11 months and live in Powys, if so please enter your postcode to see if you're eligible for Powys Flying Start.