Flying Start

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 2:22 pm on 8 March 2023.

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Photo of Mike Hedges Mike Hedges Labour 2:22, 8 March 2023

Can I thank the Minister for that response? I'm a vociferous supporter of Flying Start. It's not possible to overestimate the importance of a good start in life for a child. There are children starting nursery classes at three with a development age approaching four, whilst others have a mental age of just over two. How demoralising for them. Because of the way sensitive information is collated in lower super output areas, many children in some of the areas of greatest need miss out. Does the Minister agree that we need greater flexibility for local authorities to provide Flying Start for children, and is Flying Start's availability going to be changed following the 2021 census results?