Flying Start Childcare Funding for 2 Year Olds

Conwy are committed to supporting families to ensure the best possible start in life for little ones.

What are the benefits of my child accessing Flying Start Childcare?

Flying Start funded childcare offers a safe, nurturing and fun environment where children can learn, develop and thrive. Our childcare providers are experienced and qualified, with your child's wellbeing at the heart of everything they do.

Childcare isn't compulsory, but when you use it, we know you want it to be the best possible option for your family.

Children will have the opportunity to:

• Learn new skills
• Grow in confidence
• Feel secure and happy
• Explore their interests
• Become more independent
• Make friends
• Enjoy fun indoor and outdoor activities

Eligible children can receive up to 12½ hours of funded childcare each week during term time.

This is usually:

• 2½ hours per day
• Monday to Friday
• Term time only
  
  

Who can access Flying Start Childcare?

Children are eligible to start the school term following their 2nd birthday, until the school term following their 3rd birthday at an approved Flying Start childcare setting in Conwy.

To be eligible your child must be living in Conwy County, this must be:

• the child's main home address
• the address to which their child benefit is paid (where eligible)
• the address registered with the child's health visitor
  
  

Where is Flying Start funded childcare available?

Flying Start funded childcare is available in all areas of Conwy County.

Funding can only be used at approved Flying Start childcare settings. These settings have met quality standards and are approved by Conwy Flying Start.

Approved settings include:

• Playgroups
• Cylchoedd Meithrin
• Day Nurseries
• Childminders
  
  

This includes Welsh-medium, English-medium and bilingual childcare settings.

 
If your current childcare provider is not listed as an approved Flying Start setting, we cannot currently provide funding there.

You can speak to your childcare provider about becoming a Flying Start approved setting.

How to apply?

Your child's start date depends on their date of birth.

If your child has an eligible date of birth and lives in Conwy County, you will need to complete the Flying Start registration forms.

You can do by visiting one of our Flying Start Childcare drop-in sessions:

If you are unable to go to any of these sessions, please contact us and we can arrange another time to complete the Flying Start registration forms.

What happens next?

Once your application has been processed, the Conwy Flying Start Childcare Team will send you a confirmation email or letter.Your funded childcare place cannot start until you receive this confirmation.

The confirmation will include:

• your child's funding start date
• the funded hours agreed
• the childcare setting where the place has been arranged
  
  

Frequently Asked Questions

How many funded hours can my child receive?

Eligible children can receive up to 12½ hours per week, usually 2½ hours per day, Monday to Friday during term time.

Some arrangements may vary depending on the childcare setting.

Which childcare settings can receive Flying Start funding?

Funding can only be used at approved Flying Start childcare settings.

The full list of approved settings is available above.

What if my child attends more than one setting?

Flying Start funding can only be paid to one childcare setting.

When applying, please choose the setting where you would like your child to use their funded place.

Can I make changes to the funded hours?

If you wish to make a change to the funded hours, change childcare setting or end a placement early, you will need to discuss this with your childcare provider, and it must be agreed by the Conwy Flying Start Childcare team. Changes to hours or to settings can be made for the following half term – changes can’t be made during the current half term.

Will this affect my benefits?

You may need to tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if you receive childcare-related support, including Universal Credit.

Privacy Notice

If you receive services from Flying Start, some of the information we collect about you will be shared with Welsh Government on an annual basis. The Welsh Government Flying Start privacy notice tells you more about how your data is used and stored. You can also view Conwy's privacy notice in Easy Read format.

Need More Information?

Conwy Flying Start Childcare

Email: fs-childcare@conwy.gov.uk
Phone: 01492 575453 / 01492 575784

Conwy Family Information Service

Email: plant.children@conwy.gov.uk
Phone: 01492 577850