Childcare provision moves to a top class venue

Heolddu Comprehensive School in Bargoed has opened its doors to the first childcare facility to be based within a comprehensive school.

As a result of capital funding from the Welsh Assembly Government's 'Flying Start' programme, the childcare provision formerly situated within the Cartref Pensioners Hall in Bargoed was able to set up a new base at Heolddu.

The facility has been purpose built and boasts large indoor and outdoor play and learning areas. Parents will be encouraged to stay initially and will be offered further parenting programmes and links to the leisure centre next door, as well as developing the community-focussed school agenda.

Cllr Phil Bevan, CCBC cabinet member for education and leisure, said, "This is a fantastic new facility and I'm sure many young children and their parents will benefit from this innovative new scheme. The unification of the Flying Start programme, Heolddu Comprehensive School and the leisure centre is set to encourage better links with the community and help bring parents back into the school with a different attitude towards lifelong learning.

Future plans include working with the school and Head Teacher Phil Jones, to develop training places for vocational childcare courses and eventually develop 6th form pupils for offering quality crèche facilities to accompany activities in the evenings outside of Flying Start use.

The Flying Start area covers the Park Primary School catchment area and the number of children it will serve per year is approximately 40 children aged 2-3years old.