Countryside served by early excellence

Early years minister Catherine Ashton said the new centres bring the number nationally now to 58 and 'improved the spread across England, particularly in under-represented rural areas'. She gave details of the new centres when she visited the Lawns Nursery Centre at Biggleswade in Bedfordshire.

Head of centre Karen Navesey said, 'We are bordered by areas of significant rural disadvantage, which is sometimes forgotten because of the picturesque image the county has of thatched cottages. We also have a significant population of traveller families. We will be creating an outreach team, consisting of a teacher and a health practitioner who will work closely with a childminding co-ordinator. They will be able to identify education needs and special educational needs at an early stage.' Until recently the Lawns was housed in one of the oldest nursery buildings in the country. It has moved to new premises, but the rapid expansion of facilities for children and families mean a new building is vitally needed. 'We can only offer 12 full-time places for children aged between two-and-a-half and three-and-a-half,' said Ms Navesey.