In the Senedd on Tuesday (October 12th), National Assembly Member Mohammad Asghar praised local authorities in Newport for their management of the Flying Start programme.
Mr Asghar, who represents the South Wales East region, was speaking in a debate on the second ‘Interim Evaluation of Flying Start’.
Highlighting a local issue, he said: “On instruction from the Welsh Assembly Government, eligible families for the Flying Start programme (in Newport) were told to withdraw due to high demand.
“This was despite the fact that Newport City Council was able to … deliver adequately on the four strands of the scheme prescribed by the Welsh Assembly Government.
“Subsequently … Flying Start in Newport started removing families from the programme. However … in August this year, I understand that a U-turn took place and Newport City Council was given approval to provide extended cover.
“Although the Welsh Assembly Government’s change of tack is to be welcomed, it is worrying that this situation was allowed to develop in the first place, given the excellent way in which Newport was carrying out its Flying Start duties. Newport was managing to deliver all aspects of Flying Start and more in a very cost-effective way, and that should be applauded.
“I believe that the Welsh Assembly Government should look at that and consider how using Newport as an example of best practice could influence Flying Start programmes in other parts of Wales”.
The Shadow Minister for Equality added that he was “pleased to applaud any successes the programme has had to date and in particular any improvements to the social and cognitive development of children”; highlighting the example of “young pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds improving their use of English and Welsh as a result of the Flying Start programme”.
