We were commissioned by the Welsh Government to conduct a process evaluation of the expansion of the Flying Start programme, which seeks to provide vital support to children and their families in disadvantaged areas.

Initially launched in 2006, Flying Start is designed to assist families through four key elements: the provision of part-time high-quality childcare for 2 to 3-year-olds, enhanced health visits, parenting support, and language development support.

Following the 2021 Programme for Government, the Welsh Government committed to delivering a phased expansion of Flying Start with a particular emphasis on services provided in Welsh. The expansion consists of two phases, with Flying Start services offered in new geographical areas across all local authorities in Wales.

Areas eligible for Phase 1 of the expansion started receiving all four components of Flying Start from September 2022 onwards, with the goal of reaching an additional 2,500 children. Phase 2 consisted of the expansion of the childcare component of Flying Start beginning in April 2023, with a target of an additional 9,500 offers made to children.

Alma Economics was tasked with conducting a process evaluation of this expansion to understand the successes and challenges faced by stakeholders. Our comprehensive assessment included document reviews, stakeholder interviews, and detailed data analysis. We also developed five case studies highlighting specific examples of challenges and strategies to overcome them.

Our resulting recommendations aim to refine the approach and ensure the continued success of the Flying Start expansion, helping to secure the best possible start in life for children in Wales.

➥ Find the full report here.