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| Funding boost for babies and toddlers in poor areas | Funding boost for babies and toddlers in poor areas |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Welsh government says it will double the number of children benefiting from a pre-school programme for disadvantaged families. | The Welsh government says it will double the number of children benefiting from a pre-school programme for disadvantaged families. |
| Ministers have earmarked an extra £55m for the Flying Start scheme over three years. | Ministers have earmarked an extra £55m for the Flying Start scheme over three years. |
| It provides free part-time child care, health visits and parenting advice in poor areas. | It provides free part-time child care, health visits and parenting advice in poor areas. |
| The funding is intended to meet one of Labour's top five pledges at May's assembly election. | The funding is intended to meet one of Labour's top five pledges at May's assembly election. |
| The government is also changing the way the money is handed out, using data on benefits instead of a system for ranking deprived communities. | The government is also changing the way the money is handed out, using data on benefits instead of a system for ranking deprived communities. |
| Officials say the new method will make it less likely that families will lose out if they live in small pockets of poverty within comparatively well-off areas. | Officials say the new method will make it less likely that families will lose out if they live in small pockets of poverty within comparatively well-off areas. |
| Ministers want to increase the number of children under four years old who are in the programme from 18,000 to 36,000. | |
| The childcare, delivered through local councils, is available for children between their second and fourth birthdays. | The childcare, delivered through local councils, is available for children between their second and fourth birthdays. |
| 'Tough times' | 'Tough times' |
| Deputy children's minister Gwenda Thomas said: "These are tough times for families and we must prioritise the needs of the poorest and protect the most vulnerable. | Deputy children's minister Gwenda Thomas said: "These are tough times for families and we must prioritise the needs of the poorest and protect the most vulnerable. |
| "This is why we have made the commitment to double the number of children benefiting from Flying Start. It is one of our top five pledges for a fairer future." | "This is why we have made the commitment to double the number of children benefiting from Flying Start. It is one of our top five pledges for a fairer future." |
| Spread over three years, the £55m will be on top of annual funding of £39m a year. | Spread over three years, the £55m will be on top of annual funding of £39m a year. |
| Following research it conducted with Daycare Trust, the charity Save the Children recently warned the soaring cost of child care was pushing the poorest out of work in Wales. | Following research it conducted with Daycare Trust, the charity Save the Children recently warned the soaring cost of child care was pushing the poorest out of work in Wales. |
| It comes as the Children's Commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler told BBC Wales that the Welsh and UK governments need to refocus their efforts on tackling child poverty. | It comes as the Children's Commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler told BBC Wales that the Welsh and UK governments need to refocus their efforts on tackling child poverty. |
| He joined the children's commissioners of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland in warning that changes to benefits could push more families into poverty. | He joined the children's commissioners of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland in warning that changes to benefits could push more families into poverty. |
| A rising number of Welsh children are classed as being in poverty because they live in homes with an income less than 60% of the median. | A rising number of Welsh children are classed as being in poverty because they live in homes with an income less than 60% of the median. |
| The proportion of poor children fell between 1997 and 2003 to 28%, but has since risen to 33%. This compares to 30% for the UK. | The proportion of poor children fell between 1997 and 2003 to 28%, but has since risen to 33%. This compares to 30% for the UK. |
| A separate report, published on Monday, warns that thousands of children in Wales are being denied rights, enshrined in international law, because of the high levels of poverty. | A separate report, published on Monday, warns that thousands of children in Wales are being denied rights, enshrined in international law, because of the high levels of poverty. |