Early Years and Childcare
The Sure Start Vision
Sure Start is the Government's programme to deliver the best start in life for every child by bringing together early education, childcare, health and family support.
In North East Lincolnshire the Sure Start strategy is delivered by the Directorate of Children's Services Early Years and Childcare Department. The senior responsible officer is Joanne Hewson, Young Children's Service Manager.
Aims of the Early Years and Childcare Department
The main aims of the Early Years and Childcare department are to develop free, part-time high quality early education places for children up until the end of their reception year and to develop high quality, affordable and accessible childcare places for children up to 16. 
The Early Years and Childcare department attempts to integrate early education provision with registered childcare and with other children's services wherever possible in order to provide children with the best possible start in life and to extend the training and employment opportunities of parents and carers. The Early Years and Childcare department therefore plays a vital role in tackling child poverty and assisting community regeneration in North East Lincolnshire.
The Early Years and Childcare department produces a plan called the "Early Years and Childcare Strategic Plan" which identifies the targets of the department up to 2006 and describes the actions which will be carried out in order to achieve those targets.
What the Early Years and Childcare Department provides to achieve the Sure Start Vision
The Early Years and Childcare Department is involved in the development of a range of different childcare services across North East Lincolnshire. This includes pre-school childcare for 0-5 year olds with childminders, pre-school playgroups and day nurseries and out of school childcare for 3-14 year olds (and up to 16 for those children with special needs) with childminders and out of school clubs (including breakfast clubs, after school clubs and holiday playschemes).
The department has to make sure that this childcare is of a high quality and is sustainable by providing a range of advice, training and support services to those childcare settings and their staff.
The Early Years and Childcare Department is made up of two main teams, which work together very closely to help achieve the Sure Start vision: an Early Education Development team and an Early Years and Childcare Development Team.
Integration of Services
The Early Years and Childcare department attempts to integrate early education with childcare wherever possible. This is known as "wrap around childcare". In addition to this, the Early Years and Childcare department is heavily involved in and often takes the lead on a number of initiatives that integrates early education and childcare with other children's services, such as health and family support. these initiatives include Children's Centres, Neighbourhood Nurseries and Extended Schools. For more information on each of these initiatives, please contact the Family Information Service on 0800 18 303 17.
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