More Carmarthenshire Children To Have A Flying Start

Councillors have approved plans to extend the age range of four Carmarthenshire primary schools. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Members approved a proposal which would allow children to be accepted from the age of three at Betws, Bynea, Pembrey and Pwll primary schools. The age range at all four schools is currently four to 11. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Headteachers, governors and parents at all four school catchment areas were consulted about the move to extend the age range of the schools to ensure continuity of progression for pupils into school from the Flying Start programme, which targets prevention services in geographic areas of deprivation in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The aim is to improve outcomes for families and prepare young children for school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following the council decision, a statutory notice will be published in the summer term and the change will be introduced following final approval. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Education executive board member Cllr Gareth Jones said: “It is good news for families in these catchment areas, that their local schools will now be able to offer children this opportunity.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The core elements of the Flying Start programme are: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Free, quality, part-time childcare.
• An enhanced health visiting service.
• Access to parenting programmes.
• Early language development.