You report Gillian Pugh's 'bafflement' at only two Early Excellence Centres in England being in primary schools, when launching the NCVCCO report Re-framing Children's Services (News, 2 May). Indeed, it would be strange if this was a correct description of the position. Of the 58 Early Excellence Centres, six are in primary schools (Torrington, two primary schools form the Gateshead network, Leeds, Tyneside, South Tyneside and St Helens), while six share a primary school site or combine aspects of their provision with an adjacent primary or special school (Banbury, Bath, Biggleswade, Birmingham, Greenwich, Islington), and the network in Northumberland works with seven first schools.
You report Gillian Pugh's 'bafflement' at only two Early Excellence Centres in England being in primary schools, when launching the NCVCCO report Re-framing Children's Services (News, 2 May).
Indeed, it would be strange if this was a correct description of the position. Of the 58 Early Excellence Centres, six are in primary schools (Torrington, two primary schools form the Gateshead network, Leeds, Tyneside, South Tyneside and St Helens), while six share a primary school site or combine aspects of their provision with an adjacent primary or special school (Banbury, Bath, Biggleswade, Birmingham, Greenwich, Islington), and the network in Northumberland works with seven first schools.
We hope NCVCCO is able to correct the misleading impression given in its report. As the Early Excellence programme continues to expand, the diversity of provision within it is likely to include more primary schools, as well as other forms of combined early education.
Martin Bradley, Early Excellence Programme, Department for Education and Skills
