Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Skates hails £11m extra for children's schemes

CLWYD South AM Ken Skates has welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement that it will pump an extra £11m into a ‘vital’ free scheme which aims give children the best start in life.

Mr Skates said the plan to expand the Flying Start programme – announced by Deputy Minister for Tackling Poverty, Vaughan Gething, last week – was ‘fantastic news’ for families in Wales’ most deprived areas.
 
“This is further proof of Welsh Labour’s commitment to giving children the best possible start in life and it’s fantastic news for families in our most disadvantaged communties,” said Mr Skates.
 
“I know the Flying Start programme is making a real difference in Clwyd South as it is throughout Wales, and it’s a vital initiative of which I am particularly proud. Some 23,579 children are already benefiting from the scheme and we want it to cover 36,000 children and their families by the end of the Assembly term in 2016.”
 
* Flying Start is the Welsh Government’s early years programme for families with children under four years of age in some of the most deprived areas of Wales. It includes free part-time childcare for two and three year olds, an enhanced health visiting service, access to parenting programmes and early language development.
 
The Welsh Labour Government is to invest £6m of capital funding over the next two years to develop the facilities and infrastructure needed for the expansion of the programme. There is also additional funding of £5m revenue in 2014-15 for the running costs.

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