School transition areas receive 10m
Joe Lepper
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The government has named the 10 pilot areas for its 0-7 Partnership scheme that aims to improve children's transition from early years to primary school.
The £10m for the scheme will last for three years and will be shared by Blackpool, Derby, Hertfordshire, Isle of Wight, Kingston upon Thames, North Tyneside, Rotherham, Somerset, Staffordshire and Sunderland councils.
The cash will be used to improve partnerships between schools, nursery workers, childminders and parents. The areas involved will also test plans to provide parents with a single point of contact for advice about local childcare needs.
Sharing of information and joint training between the early years and schools sectors is another focus of the scheme and will involve councils, health trusts and local charities linked with education and childcare.
Conservative councillor Alan Wells, Isle of Wight Council's lead member for children, said the 0-7 Partnership will form part of wider efforts to improve outcomes and attainment levels among the island's young people. This includes replacing its primary, middle and secondary schools with just two tiers of school. "This project will become a key part in the council's vision for improving educational services and standards at all levels," he added.
The 0-7 Partnership is part of a £819m funding package for early years and childcare services over the next three years, announced by children's minister Beverley Hughes last week.
The package includes a £15m scheme to run alongside the 0-7 Partnership to create buddying networks between school and early years staff to share good practice.
About £590m will go towards extending the free childcare entitlement for three- and four-year-olds from 12.5 hours to 15 hours. A further £100m will be used to extend free entitlement to a further 20,000 two-year-olds in disadvantaged areas.
"This funding will provide greater opportunity for practitioners to take part in continuous professional development, because they are key to driving quality," said Hughes.
Clare Tickell, chief executive of children's charity NCH, which runs 68 children's centres welcomed the funds: "Support at a local level is vital in providing positive opportunities for families."
