A Flying Start For Youngsters

More than 2,400 youngsters across the Caerphilly County are given a flying start. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Flying Start programme is designed to improve the lives of families and children by supporting families to establish positive behaviours through healthy lifestyles. Over the past four years the programme has more than doubled the amount of families it supports from 1,250 to a staggering 2,483 per year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The demand has grown for the positive service which is now available in 26 local areas to support families with children from 0 to 3 years of age until they enter early years education at 3. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The staff in each Flying Start setting offer specialist support focusing on promoting language, cognitive, social and emotional skills, physical development and the early identification of high needs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A parent commented, “For the first 5 weeks my son suffered with separation anxiety and if it wasn’t for the girls in Hengoed flying start we wouldn’t have over-come it. I haven’t got a bad word to say about the setting! Myself and my son will really miss the girls as not only have they brought him out of his shell they also supported me as a parent when I needed it. I can’t thank them enough.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since its inception the programme has enjoyed many successes including published children’s book written by parents and numerous community awards for outstanding work. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr. Derek Havard, Cabinet Member for Education & Lifelong Learning, said, “The Flying Start programme is a fantastic way to instil positive behaviours in our children and families. It is vital that we nurture our youngest residents to give them the best possible start in life.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​