A WELSHPOOL pre-school setting has been awarded the tender to provide a flagship Welsh Government childcare scheme.

Happitots, which is part of the Gungrog Road site of Welshpool Church in Wales Primary School, will continue to provide the Flying Start scheme.

Happitots won one of two tenders available in Welshpool to provide the valuable service from the Welsh Government.

Flying Start is an early years programme that helps families with children under four living in disadvantaged areas of Wales.

It offers free, high-quality, part-time childcare for two-year-olds; support for children’s development of speech; language and communication; parenting support; and an enhanced health visitor service.

Happitots held a well-attended open day so that children and their families could meet the staff, who have a combined age of experience of more than 30 years.

“We are delighted to have been awarded the tender to allow Flying Start to continue at our setting,” says Justine Baldwin, headteacher of Welshpool Church in Wales Primary School.

“It is so important that all children get the best start possible and I know that our well qualified and dedicated staff will be able to do this!”

“It benefits our children because they are able to take part in activities that allow them to develop their language skills. Evidence shows that speech, language and communication ability is an important predictor of later progress in literacy and has an impact on social skills as well as behaviour of children.

“The Flying Start setting is committed to safeguard the health, wellbeing and welfare of all children who attend. We aim to promote bonding and attachment that supports positive parent-child relationships, resulting in secure emotional attachment for children.

“Through the setting, we aim to support and empower families to make informed choices about how to provide safe, nurturing environments for their children.

“Experienced staff will assist children to meet all growth and developmental milestones enabling them to achieve school readiness, and they will support the children’s transition into our three and four-year-old pre-school setting and then into school.”