Number and percentage of children offered Phase 2 Flying Start childcare, by local authority
This data is official statistics in development. These figures should be treated as provisional until the official Flying Start release in autumn. Whilst it has been quality assured, it might be subject to some change if any further feedback from local authorities is received in the meantime.
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NumberMetadata
- High level information
- Summary information
- Keywords
- Weblinks
- Statistical quality information
- Open Data
Title
Number and percentage of children offered Phase 2 Flying Start childcare, by local authorityLast update
August 2025Next update
October 2026 (provisional)Publishing organisation
Welsh GovernmentSource 1
Welsh Government Flying Start Data Monitoring ReturnsContact email
stats.healthinfo@gov.walesDesignation
Management informationLowest level of geographical disaggregation
Local authoritiesGeographical coverage
Local authoritiesLanguages covered
English and WelshData licensing
You may use and re-use this data free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government License - see http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licenceGeneral description
Flying Start is the Welsh Government early years programme delivered by local authorities in Wales. It is aimed at improving outcomes for families with children under 4 years of age in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Wales.The core Flying Start childcare offer is that quality childcare is offered to parents of all eligible 2 to 3 year olds for 2.5 hours a day, 5 days a week for 39 weeks of the year. In addition, there should be at least 15 sessions of provision for the family during the school holidays. Families can choose to accept either the full offer or a reduced offer if only some of the sessions are needed.
Frequency of publication
AnnualData reference periods
2023-2024 onwardsUsers, uses and context
The purpose of this statistical release is to provide evidence for policy development; to allow local authorities to monitor and benchmark their service provision against other local authorities in Wales; and to inform for the public about provision of the Flying Start programme.Keywords
Flying start data, newly eligible for childcare, offered childcare, taking up either a full or reduced offer of childcareStatistical quality
Data from 2020-21 and 2021-22 was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In years prior to the pandemic, in general only face-to-face contacts were recorded as Flying Start contacts. Welsh Government guidance issued in June 2021 stated that, as a general rule any targeted activity conducted via different means during the pandemic (i.e. virtual contacts through Skype or Whatsapp) should be recorded in the same way as face-to-face contacts were recorded previously. The guidance also stated that local authorities should exercise their professional judgement when determining if a virtual contact was meaningful enough to be recorded.Local authorities have provided additional feedback on how services were affected in 2021-22, and these included:
• some parenting and speech, language and communication (SLC) programmes were either not run or not able to be completed
• some childcare sessions had low attendance due to continued parental concern over COVID-19
• some parents chose not to take-up childcare which they may h
