Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Social Justice – in the Senedd at 1:58 pm on 5 October 2022.
Thank you for those very important questions. The way we try to tackle poverty with our powers is about universal approaches, such as the free schools meals to all pupils, which will help many of those who are on that brink of being disadvantaged or finding it hard at this present financial time. Just to say, in Powys County Council, this actually now includes an additional 1,067 learners universally getting that offer. It's going to widen, of course.
But on your point about Flying Start, the roll-out of the phase 1 expansion of Flying Start began in September. In Powys, this does equate to around 60 more children under four eligible for the programme, and 15 children aged two to three will be eligible for the childcare element. I think, also importantly, that there are other access grants, like the pupil development access grant. Actually, the total of that, alongside the early years pupil development grant for 2023, was £3,148,700.