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Minister visits new Flying Start Centre
Published: 20/03/2015
Lesley Griffiths AM, Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, has visited
the new Flying Start centre at Ysgol Bryn Deva in Connah鈥檚 Quay to see the
fantastic childcare services and facilities it offers.
The centre was opened last year, thanks to a Welsh Government capital grant of
拢825,000.
Flying Start facilities offer eligible parents free quality childcare for two
to three year olds, parenting support, an enhanced health visitor service and
help for early language development. They help families to look after their
children鈥檚 health and well being.
Before the new provision, Flying Start services in Connah鈥檚 Quay operated from
a number of locations in the town. Childcare was provided at Ysgol Bryn Deva
and demand for places often exceeded availability. Working in partnership with
the school and Jigsaw Playgroup, the purpose-built centre provides the full
range of Flying Start services under one roof. This includes parenting
programmes, health sessions for children, an early language group and cr猫che
facilities. 48 children are now able to take up their Flying Start childcare
entitlement at the centre, which means that requests for childcare places can
now be fully met.
Flying Start services at the school have also been extended to include baby
massage courses, early language development and parenting programmes, which are
delivered to parents who are able to bring their children with them to be cared
for by qualified staff, in the onsite cr猫che.
Lesley Griffiths, AM, said:
鈥淚t鈥檚 been good to see the excellent facilities here in Connah鈥檚 Quay and the
difference Welsh Government investment has made. Flying Start ensures that
children across Wales have the best possible start in life while also offering
valuable support and advice to parents. I have seen this here at Bryn Deva
today, and would like to congratulate all those involved establishing the new
facility here.
Leader of 天涯社区, Cllr Aaron Shotton, who greeted the
Minister, said:
鈥淚t has been a pleasure to welcome the Minister to our wonderful Flying Start
Centre in Connah鈥檚 Quay. I am extremely proud of this new facility which is
providing local families, who are entitled to Flying Start Services, with a
wonderful venue for free child care provision and parental support from our
very dedicated team. This expansion would not have been possible without
funding from the Welsh Government鈥檚 Flying Start Strategic Capital grant
programme and the support of Ysgol Bryn Deva, so I would like to extend our
thanks to the Minister and to Bryn Deva鈥檚 head teacher Tamasine Croston.鈥�
Head teacher of Ysgol Bryn Deva, Tamasine Croston, added:
鈥淲e are very grateful to the Welsh Government and to Flying Start to have this
excellent facility here in Connahs Quay; the building, with its state of the
art facilities and environment, is an exceptional place for children and
families to learn. Even in the short time that it has been open, it is already
having a highly positive impact on this area, both the provision for children
and classes for parents are very well attended. We are looking forward to the
coming months and seeing the impact grow!
Image
Lesley Griffiths AM, Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, is pictured
with the baby massage class at the Flying Start centre, along with 天涯社区
County Councillors, Council officers and representatives from Flying Start.