Written Statement: First local authority offers Flying Start Childcare to all two-year-olds

We are delighted to inform Members, that following the additional funding agreed in the  2025-26 budget, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council are the first Local Authority to advise us that they are now able to provide Flying Start childcare for all two-year-olds in their Local Authority area. This is a significant achievement which demonstrates our commitment to giving every child in Wales the best possible start in life.

The Minister for Children and Social Care wrote to members in July 2025 to provide an update about our Programme for Government commitment to deliver a phased expansion of early years provision to include all two-year-olds, with a particular emphasis on strengthening Welsh-medium provision.

Phase 3 of the expansion began in April 2025 and is being delivered through our Flying Start Childcare programme. In 2025-26, we are investing £25m of additional funding for further expansion across Wales, which will bring Wales a step closer to the universal provision of childcare for all two-year-olds. We expect this first year of Phase 3 to support more than 4,000 additional two-year-olds across Wales to access high quality Flying Start childcare.

Flying Start childcare is a vital service, which helps children to learn, grow and thrive. Phase 3 of the expansion of Flying Start childcare will allow all Local Authorities across Wales to reach more families who can benefit from this offer.

We want to thank colleagues across the sector including local authorities and childcare providers for their hard work to extend the reach of high-quality Flying Start childcare. We will continue to work closely with local authorities, childcare providers and other partners to ensure the quality and sustainability of Flying Start childcare.

This funding for the Flying Start expansion was secured through the budget deal between the Welsh Government and Jane Dodds MS, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

We will keep Members of the Senedd updated about further progress.