Welsh Government Funded Childcare for 2-Year-Olds – Your Questions Answered
Here at Schoolhouse Daycare we’ve had lots of questions about Welsh Government’s funded childcare scheme for 2-year-olds (formerly known as Flying Start childcare). We’re always happy to help, so we’ve put together some information about the benefits of the scheme and answered some of the questions we are most often asked.
What is Welsh Government Funded Childcare and what are the benefits?
The funded childcare forms part of the Welsh Government’s wider early years support programme for families with young children. It has been designed to give children the best possible start in life while supporting families along the way.
Funded childcare for two-year-olds
The package includes 12.5 hours of free quality childcare a week (up to 2.5 hours a day, 5 days a week) for two-year-olds, in approved settings.
Access to parenting support
The parenting support could include courses such as baby massage, one-to-one guidance and support groups that help parents nurture their child’s development.
Enhanced health visiting service
This is a service where the Health Visitors have a smaller caseload than standard services, so they can offer better support for health, infant feeding and early identification of needs.
Help with speech, language and communication development
Children accessing funded sessions can attend language and play sessions which boost early communication skills, vocabulary and cognitive development.
Long-term benefits for educational and social outcomes
Attending these quality childcare providers can help children become more independent, improve their concentration and build their social skills. Research shows that children attending funded sessions have improved language skills, better performance in reading and math’s and more positive behaviour. Good quality childcare leads to children who are more co-operative and better prepared when they start school.
Benefits of Welsh medium support
Did you know, if Welsh is not the main language at home, there are several benefits for children in early years settings in Welsh?
- increased ability to focus
- higher cognitive function
- improved social and cultural relations
Plus, bilingual children can often develop more flexible approaches to thinking through problems.
Benefits for parents
Not only can parents get support with their parenting, they have the opportunity to use that funded time to access work, education or training opportunities and so do something for themselves.
Is my child eligible and how do I find out?
The funded childcare for children aged two to three is being introduced in phases. It is already available in Swansea, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport and Wrexham. If parents have not been contacted by their local Flying Start team they can check their eligibility here.
It might be that parents are using a childcare setting that is not yet registered to provide funded childcare. In that case, their current provider could choose to apply to provide funded childcare or parents could change provider to one, like Schoolhouse Daycare, where they can access funded spaces.
How many hours of free childcare will I receive and what if I need more childcare or the hours don’t work for me?
Funded childcare is usually provided as 2.5-hour sessions, five days per week during term time, totalling 12.5 hours per week for 39 term-time weeks.
Some providers may be able to offer flexibility around session arrangements. At Schoolhouse Daycare, many families choose to use their funded hours as part of a longer session and simply pay for any additional childcare required.
Please speak to a member of our team if you’d like to discuss the options available.
What happens when my child turns three?
From the term after their third birthday, eligible families may be able to access the Childcare Offer for Wales. This provides up to 30 hours of combined early education and childcare each week, made up of a minimum of 10 hours of nursery education and up to 20 additional hours of childcare.
Find out more about The Childcare Offer for Wales here and check your eligibility here.
I have more questions!
If you have any further questions about the Welsh Government Funded Childcare, have a look at the government’s website: https://www.gov.wales/flying-start-childcare-guide-parents-and-carers or come and have a chat with one of our Managers; Vicky at Singleton, Kasey at Bridgend and Sarah at Teilo – who will all be happy to help.
