Flying Start & Childcare Offer

Little Chums is registered as a 'Flying Start' setting and to provide the Welsh Government's 'Childcare Offer' scheme. 

Research suggests that quality early childhood play, learning and are leads to improvements in children’s development in later years, such as enhanced language skills; better educational performance in mathematics and reading; and an increase in positive behaviour/outcomes. Children who attend quality early years settings are more independent, concentrate on their play for longer and, on entry to school, are more co-operative and better prepared for the challenges they meet.

Therefore, the Welsh Government offers programmes such as Flying Start and the Childcare Offer to help support families with care costs while improving life chances for children.

Flying Start 

Eligibility to access the Flying Start programme is often shared with parents during their antenatal care. Health Visitors and local Flying Start teams also contact families to inform them about the registration procedure.

The objective is for all 2-year-olds to be offered funded childcare and Welsh Government expects to support more than 9,500 more two-year-olds across Wales to access funded quality Flying Start childcare by the end of 2025, with the programme being expanded further every year.

Those eligible by living in a Flying Start postcode area can receive 12.5 hours of funded, high-quality childcare per week for 39 weeks of the year and Little Chums is registered to provide this. Please contact us for details about how this 12.5 hours can be used as a supplement to your regular paid childcare hours at Little Chums.

More information about Flying start can be found on the Welsh Government website here.   Additional information may be obtained from your health visitor or via your local authority family information service.

Parents of a child who is accessing Flying Start childcare who turns 3 and no longer eligible to receive Flying Start funding, will be able to transition into the Childcare Offer scheme, usually the term after the third birthday.

Childcare Offer

Little Chums is registered for the Welsh Government's ‘Childcare Offer for Wales’. This funding from the Welsh Government could reduce your invoice by a few hundred pounds every month and is available from the term after your child turns 3 years old! 

The offer is made up of funded hours at Little Chums or both hours at Little Chums and a local school for 48 weeks of the year and may be used to supplement your regualr paid childcare hours at Little Chums. You can also use funded childcare hours at any time during holiday weeks. If you do not use your allotted hours in one week, you cannot use them in another week.

Please contact us before applying to check we have the available space and to agree how your hours will be used. 

Eligibility criteria do apply as set by Welsh Government.  To register, you will require your child’s birth certificate, proof of your address and proof of your household income or enrolment on a higher or further education course.

To apply, visit the Welsh Government website here...