HC Deb 08 January 2002 vol 377 cc709-10W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight, on 14 November 2001,Official Report,cols 798–99W, if she will list the criteria for joining the Early Excellence Centres programme contained in the latest invitation to join the programme; and if she will make a statement on how these relate to the earlier invitations. [16234]

Margaret Hodge

[holding answer 20 November 2002]: Criteria and detailed requirements for joining the Early Excellence Centre (EEC) programme are set out in guidance issued by the Department. The latest guidance was issued on 5 October 2001. The core activities of the programme which all centres are expected to deliver, or have well advanced and convincing plans to develop, remain unchanged from previous phases of the programme and are as follows: good quality integrated early education and day care for children 0-five requiring centre-based extended-day and extended-year provision; parental and carer involvement in the education and care of children, e.g. schemes for family learning, developing parenting skills, raising parents' expectations and in other ways; support services for children and parents and carers of children, e.g. health, counselling and information services, home support, drop-in facilities; effective early identification and intervention for children in need and children with special educational needs, with a view to improving children's prospects and, wherever appropriate, achieving inclusion in mainstream provision; access to adult education and training by parents of young children and other adults, including those seeking skills and qualifications for employment; raising standards of integrated early years provision among other early years providers, including voluntary and private providers, childminders and other carers, by contributing to the training and development strategy of the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership and through the development and dissemination of good practice.

Decisions on designations also take into account links with other Government programmes, geographical coverage, support of key partners, especially the local Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP), and commitment to multi-agency working.