New childcare facility opens in Connah’s Quay

A Welsh Government minister was on hand to help cut the turf for a new Flintshire childcare centre.

Vaughan Gething AM, Deputy Minister for Tackling Poverty, cut the first sod at new Bryn Deva Flying Start Centre on Linden Avenue, Connah’s Quay, yesterday.

Mr Gething was joined by members of Connah’s Quay Town Council, including chairman Cllr Andy Dunbobbin and Flintshire Council members such as leader Cllr Aaron Shotton and Cllr Christine Jones, cabinet member for social services.

For the past four years, Bryn Deva has operated from a number of locations.The new purpose-built site is bringing all its services together and providing 48 childcare places.

A Welsh Government capital grant of £825,000 is paying for the purpose-built centre, which is due to open in September of next year.

Flying Start facilities offer eligible parents free childcare for children aged two to three, as well as offering parenting support, enhanced health visitor services and help for early language development.

On cutting the first sod, Mr Gething said: “The expansion of our Flying Start programme is progressing well in Flintshire and more than 1,000 children will be supported through the programme this year. The Welsh Government has invested just over £1.2 million in capital projects to support the roll out of Flying Start across the county.

“This has enabled us to create high quality settings for Flying Start children and families within communities in Flintshire.”

Cllr Jones said: “The need for a Flying Start Centre in Connah’s Quay was identified as long ago as 2007.The locality team have been delivering services in difficult circumstances since the beginning of the programme.

“We are delighted the Welsh Government Flying Start team has provided the amount of funding necessary. I am grateful for the support of the deputy minister for the Flying Start programme in Flintshire.

“It will provide the families of Connah’s Quay, who are entitled to Flying Start Services, with a high quality venue which will enable our team to deliver services on the site of Bryn Deva School.”

For the financial years, 2012-14, Flintshire Council was allocated £1,214,001 in capital funding.

The number of children benefiting from Flying Start in Flintshire in 2012-13 was 954.

That number increased for 2013-14 to 1,078 as Flintshire was allocated a Flying Start revenue budget of £2,312,189.