New Flying Start Centre In Garth Offers A Range Of Support For Local Families

Bridgend County Borough Council’s Flying Start programme is set to benefit yet another local community following the creation of a new centre in Garth, Maesteg. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Built within Garth Primary School, the centre will help even more eligible families access a range of services including free high-quality part-time childcare for two to three year-olds, an enhanced health visiting service, access to parenting programmes, and help with early language development. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

An Open Day was held last week so that local parents could take a look around the centre, which will have capacity to look after 12 children each weekday morning, and another 12 during afternoons. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new setting will be fully operational later this year, but before then parents are invited to find out more and register for places by initially contacting their health visitor. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Parents are also able to take their children to the centre and stay with them to enjoy ‘Stay and Play’ sessions. The free sessions, which involve fun activities and a snack, are being held twice a week up until the summer holidays. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Hailey Townsend, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Services and Equalities, said: “The Flying Start programme is a Welsh Government funded initiative that aims to provide families with better opportunities for their children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Well over 1,000 children in Bridgend County Borough have already benefited from Flying Start, and it’s wonderful to see it expand into another local community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The support offered by Flying Start is vast, and I would certainly recommend anyone living in a Flying Start area to find out more. From an extensive midwifery service, to breast feeding advice, weaning groups, and baby massage, Flying Start offers vital additional support for mothers before and after birth. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“And the support continues as your child grows into a toddler, with potty clubs, free childcare and numerous other services on hand to aid their development so that they can get the best possible start in life and be ready for school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Crucially, Flying Start doesn’t just focus on your child, but the professional team also focus on you and your individual needs. For example, the Flying Start Family Support Team can provide advice on issues such as housing, budgeting, and debt. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Townsend added: “Being a parent is a hard job, but the Flying Start programme is there to help.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Flying Start offers all eligible families funded childcare from the term following their second birthday to the end of the term in which they are three. The offer is for up to 12.5 hours per week for 39 weeks per year (the academic term period). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new Flying Start setting at Garth is currently waiting for Care Social Services Inspectorate in Wales registration and will hopefully be offering free childcare from September 2016 to families living in the following post code areas: CF34 0HX, CF34 0NJ, CF34 0LW, CF34 0NT, CF34 0EJ, CF34 0EX, CF34 9TG, CF34 0DX, CF34 0DJ, CF34 0NX, CF34 0SJ, CF34 0LP, CF34 0LN, CF34 0HJ, CF34 0PJ, CF34 0PX. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Flying Start is also offered in parts of Afon y Felin, Betws, Caerau, Plasnewydd, Sarn, Brackla, Blackmill, Lewistown, Cornelly, Wildmill and Cefn Glas. Welsh Language Childcare is available across Flying Start in partnership with Mudiad Meithrin settings. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​