A new childcare facility offering Flying Start and Childcare Offer places has successfully opened at Ysgol Afon Wen – complementing the major recent investment that has provided first-class education facilities in Hawthorn.
Ysgol Afon Wen was one of several brand new schools to open in September 2024 within the Greater Pontypridd area – as communities across Hawthorn, Cilfynydd, Rhydyfelin and Beddau benefitted from a joint £79.9m investment with Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.
To complement the investment, separate Welsh Government funding was secured to include a registered childcare facility on the school site – and Blossom Early Years was recently established in January 2025.
The facility caters for children aged 2-5 years-old, and offers both Flying Start funded places for children aged 2-3 years, and Childcare Offer funded places for nursery aged children. Blossom Early Years is registered with the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) for 19 places per session, and ensures families can access their funded childcare places within a safe and secure environment.
The new setting benefits from modern facilities – a fully-equipped main play room, food preparation kitchen, children’s cloakroom, dedicated nursery age toilet facilities and changing area, and a secure outdoor play space. Further details about Flying Start and the Childcare Offer, and contact details for the Blossom Early Years setting, are included at the bottom of this news item.
Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Inclusion, and the Welsh Language, said: “I’m pleased that Blossom Early Years has now been established and opened at Ysgol Afon Wen to be accessed by local families, with the setting benefitting from brand new facilities. Not only does it complement the huge Education investment at Ysgol Afon Wen, but it will provide a vital role in the local delivery of the Flying Start and Childcare Offer funded programmes by Welsh Government.
“Increasing access to childcare facilities is a key investment priority for the Council, and we continue to welcome Welsh Government support in this area. This scheme in Hawthorn follows closely from new facilities being created at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Castellau before Christmas, enabling Cylch Meithrin Beddau to expand their current provision to full-time – and also an investment at Glenboi Community Primary School at the start of the 2024/25 academic year, that has greatly improved and expanded its local childcare setting.”
The Council’s website contains important information about Flying Start and the Childcare Offer Wales, on dedicated webpages that are available on the links provided. The Blossom Early Years setting can be contacted by emailing blossom.afonwen@gmail.com or by calling 07983 505037 and 01443 827765.
Posted on 11/02/2025