Nursery World - Take twos.. continuity of care

The expansion of the free entitlement for disadvantaged two year-olds will require new solutions to meet demand for places and new relationships between providers. James Hempsall describes how this has been the case in Stockton-on-Tees, where a holistic family approach has focused on providing continuity between a specially created playgroup and the children's centre.

Port Clarence is three miles from Billingham town centre in Stockton-on-Tees. The local authority identified there were many two year-olds locally who were eligible for free two-year-old early education. However, as is often the case, a lack of sustainable, registered childcare in the area meant it was difficult for families to find and use a local place. In September 2010, the local authority worked in partnership with the primary school, children's centre, the Pre-School Learning Alliance and the community centre to set up a new playgroup offering 12 two-year-old places, five mornings a week during term-time.

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