Over 250 children from less well-off families in the district have been awarded Government grants for free early years education through the Council.
These families will be able to access up to 15 hours per week (for up to 38 weeks per year) of high quality early years provision for their two-year-old children.
High quality childcare providers and childminders across Bath and North East Somerset are providing Government-funded places – which have been allocated by the Council – to help improve outcomes for these children and develop their readiness to start school in the future.
The number of placements available from September 2014 will increase to approximately 500, further ensuring that children from less well-off backgrounds are given every opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Councillor Dine Romero (Lib-Dem, Southdown), Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Youth, said: “This is a great achievement which demonstrates Bath & North East Somerset Council’s on-going commitment to improving the outcomes for all children. We are looking forward to further increasing the number of children who will be able to take advantage of free high quality early learning opportunities in the next 12 months.”
For further information on early learning opportunities, contact the Family Information Service on 0800 0731214, email: [email protected], or visit our website www.bathnes.gov.uk/fis.