A GOVERNMENT minister has announced a new scheme which aims to give young children at six North-East schools a better start in life.

Sam Gyimah, Minister for Childcare, said the schools in Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Sunderland and Scarborough would benefit from more than £300,000 of government funding to boost the quality of early years education.

It will involve selected schools rated as outstanding by Ofsted working more closely with neighbouring nurseries. The aim is to ensure young children are ready to make the most of formal education.

Evidence shows that the education you receive in your early years count in later life.

Children from less advantaged backgrounds can start school 19 months behind their peers, but good quality early years education can reduce this gap and have a significant benefit in terms of a child’s development.

Research suggests that children who benefit from good quality early years can go on to earn about £27,000 more during their career compared to those who don’t, and are also likely to do better at school – gaining the equivalent of 7 GCSE grades at grade ‘B’ compared to grade ‘C’.

The new initiative is part of a £5m nationwide package to help nurseries and local schools work together in the early years to get children ready for school.

Sam Gyimah, Minister for Childcare, said: "I’m delighted children in the North-East are set to benefit from this innovative scheme, which will help to ensure they receive the very best early years education.

“We know the first few years of a child’s life can be make or break in terms of how well they go on to do at school and beyond – and the sharing of expertise and best practice is vital to driving innovation and raising standards.”

The schools that will benefit from the early years scheme include Carmel College in Darlington, Etherley Lane Nursery School in Bishop Auckland, Pallister Park Primary School in Middlesbrough, St John Vianney RC Primary School in Hartlepool, Town End Academy in Sunderland and Childhaven Community Nursing School in Scarborough.

A spokesman for the Department for Education said: “Today’s announcement is just the latest step in the Government’s drive to make sure all children - no matter what their starting point in life - receive the best possible start in life and are ready to begin school, especially those from low-income families.”