Free care for two-year-olds

A project that offers free nursery education places for two-year-olds is proving a success at attracting hard-to-reach groups.

The 18-month pilot project, which runs until summer 2008, has funding from the DfES for 85 children across Cornwall. Currently there are around 58 children taking up free places with local nurseries, pre-schools and childminders.

Sandy Lawrence, project co-ordinator with Cornwall County Council's family services, said, 'The project is going really well and we are delighted to have seen so many children, carers and parents getting this extra and very welcome support.'

She said the pilot was targeted at groups which typically had a lower take-up of the free entitlement for three- and four-year-olds.

These are children with additional needs or children from Gypsy, Roma and traveller families and migrant workers.

'These groups traditionally don't access the three-and four-year-old places,' said Ms Lawrence. 'The aim is to make the transition into early years and reception class easier.'

She anticipates that the final take-up will be made up of 75 per cent children with additional needs and 25 per cent from traveller and migrant families.

Two different methods are being used to encourage families to take part. To reach those with young children with additional needs, the project has links with the local inclusion team, health visitors, paediatricians and portage and local voluntary organisation Parent to Parent.

Ms Lawrence acknowledged that reaching traveller and migrant families was more difficult. Project leaflets have been produced in Polish, Russian and Portuguese, the languages common to most of the new migrants in the area.

Referrals are made through the council's equality and diversity service and a local group, Traveller Space, that runs a playbus.

Jane Armstrong's daughter Nicole has Down's syndrome and attends Caterpillars Nursery at Coads Green Primary School, near Launceston, for four days a week through the pilot.

Ms Armstrong said, 'Without this, all my salary would go on childcare. It helps financially and means we can do more as a family. It's good because the staff are already getting to know Nicole and she will be able to stay on at the nursery and go into reception. I've seen a big improvement in her social skills.'