Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I’m very pleased to open this debate today on the Children, Young People and Education Committee’s report on the outreach elements of the Flying Start programme.

Flying Start was introduced 11 years ago and is regarded as one of the Welsh Government’s flagship early years programmes. It is delivered by local authorities within defined geographical areas and is considered one of the Welsh Government’s top priorities for tackling poverty. The programme has four key elements: free part-time childcare for two to three-year olds, an enhanced health visiting service, access to parenting support and access to early language development support. The programme targets areas according to measures of relative disadvantage, including the Welsh index of multiple deprivation, free school meals and the proportion of children under four in households receiving income-related benefits. Flying Start therefore seeks to support the most disadvantaged families, communities and young children. Its services are universally available to all children under the age of four in the areas in which it runs.