As children return to school to begin their new term, City of York Council's Education department are celebrating the receipt of an award for their pioneering early years scheme, 'A Shared Foundation for children'.

The award from the Daycare Trust and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), recognises achievements made by York's early years development and childcare partnership (EYDCP), in the category 'Seamless services - integrating childcare and early education'.

The award recognises the partnership's contribution to the lives of families and children in the local community. The council is one of only five local authorities in the country to pilot a new way of providing early years education and childcare which raises the starting age of formal schooling to five for all children and concentrates instead on integrated education and 'wrap around care'.

After two years of consultation and debate, the scheme is being rolled out in three phases in the city, with primary schools and other early years providers in Tang Hall, Wigginton and Stockton on the Forest already starting the scheme in September 2001.

By 2003 each of the city's 50 infant and primary schools will be part of a local partnership offering access to five sessions of two and a half hours of free education every week, supplemented by a variety of care options.

Janet Looker, executive member for education, said: "Although this may sound like a radical departure from existing arrangements and we may be leading the way nationally, it is totally child and family-focused. The council has worked hard to secure free early years places for all three and four year olds in the city and, having done that three years ahead of schedule, this is a logical progression - giving parents access to quality early years education and a choice of childcare options."

Heather Marsland, the council's early years manager, said: "The award is great news and recognises that this partnership provides seamless childcare and early years schooling opportunities according to local parents' wishes and needs. Parents will find that they no longer need to juggle with separate childcare and pre-school arrangements, as this system will offer care and schooling together - wrap around care.

York has a thriving early years and childcare partnership with practitioners from all sectors - voluntary, private and independent as well as health and community services - and without their day to day support and help, this award would not have been achieved."

This system ensures that young children, during the periods of 8am to 6pm, are cared for around a core early education place and the options will include before and after school clubs; childminding; holiday play schemes; nurseries and pre-school playgroups. Parents will still have to pay for the care element of this package - although some parents will benefit from Working Families Tax Credit and other support.

The next partnerships to join the scheme will be Fishergate, Hob Moor and Huntington/Yearsley Grove in September 2002.

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