Funding for Wales' Flying Start programme for under-threes is to increase by 10 per cent, following the allocation by the Welsh Assembly of an extra 371m to education initiatives last week.
The Welsh Assembly Government said that the additional money will boostthe Children, Education and Lifelong Learning and Skills budget forthree years from 2008-09. The budget is set at more than 6bn overthe next three years.
Flying Start provides support services for under-threes and freechildcare for two-year-olds. The total funding for 2008-09 will now be32m; for 2009-10 it will be 33m; and in 2010-11 it willrise to 36m. This means that planned provision will increase by10 per cent.
The roll-out of the Foundation Phase in Wales will also receive an extra15m for 2008-09 and for future years. The Welsh government hasannounced plans to spend 120m on expanding the provision ofaffordable childcare over the next three years.
