National evaluation of Flying Start: year 1

The Core Flying Start programme helps families with children under 4 years old in disadvantaged areas of Wales. First launched in 2006 to 2007 the programme’s core offer is made up of four elements.

• Funded, part-time, high-quality childcare for 2- to 3-year-olds.
• Enhanced health visitor support.
• Access to parenting support from the perinatal stage to age four.
• Speech, language, and communication development support.

Phase 1 of Flying Start expansion expanded all four elements of the programme into new areas in 2022 to 2023. The expansion targeted communities with the highest levels of deprivation that had not yet been reached and increased the availability of Welsh-medium places. Since April 2023, the expansion rolled out the funded part-time childcare element of Flying Start with the ambition of reaching all 2- and 3-year-olds in Wales.

The year 1 qualitative evaluation report forms part of an ongoing three-year mixed‑methods study and provides an overview of delivery, engagement, and perceived impact during a period of significant programme expansion.