Becoming an early excellence centre is like embarking on a journey of exploration and discovery, says Julie Vaggers, headteacher of Rowland Hill Centre for Childhood in the London borough of Haringey.
The Early Excellence scheme was launched in 1997 with the aim of developing high-quality integrated early years services and spreading good practice. There are now 49 centres in England, with the latest batch of 14 announced in October this year, putting the DfES nearly halfway to meeting its aim of creating 100 early excellence centres by 2004.
'I think it's an exciting project,' says Ms Vaggers, whose centre gained the status in 1999. 'Integrated working is never easy and getting professionals to work together in a holistic way is challenging. But we feel that we are now being recognised by the Government and it has raised the status of the early years.'
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