Free nursery scheme boost for Lambeth’s disadvantaged children

Disadvantaged children in Lambeth are to benefit from an extra year of free early education under a new scheme launched in Brixton yesterday.

The council’s successful bid to be a pilot area for a new scheme that will see 2 year-olds who come from disadvantaged backgrounds given extra early education for free is a welcome initiative after some hard lobbying of government by the Lambeth Labour Group following the Tory Lib Dem savage cuts to early years Sure Start funding.

Lambeth have been given £400,000, which will provide free places for more than 100 two year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds which help give them the extra skills needed before reaching primary school.
The scheme which will go nationwide in September 2013 has been developed with evidence showing that Children who have access to high quality early education are more likely to start school ready and able to learn, with the skills they need to succeed.

Cllr Rachel Heywood, Cabinet Member for Children and Families at Lambeth Council, said:
“This is great news for children and families from some of the most deprived parts of Lambeth. Studies show that many children from poorer backgrounds start primary school at a disadvantage. This funding is vital because it will help close the attainment gap by making sure they start school with the skills that they need to do well, given these children the chance which they deserve.”