Building on Success for South Tyneside Families
Families with young children in South Tyneside can look forward to better support at Council-run nurseries after staff there completed a nationally-recognised qualification.
Twenty staff working in early years settings across the Borough took part in the Building on Success professional development programme funded by the Department for Education and delivered by the Education Development Trust.
The eight-month programme covered modules on personal and social development, communication and language and early maths. It was aimed at staff working with children with an Education Health and Care Plan or in settings where there are disadvantaged children, in line with the Council's ambition to make things fairer.
The programme was aimed at improving the skills of staff working with two to four-year-olds to help them identify children with speech or communication needs and develop skills to support children's self-confidence, relationships, and self-awareness.
As a result of the training early years staff will also be better able to work with parents and carers to support the home learning environment.
Councillor Adam Ellison, Lead Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: "We want all our children to have the best start in life so it's important that our staff have the right skills to be able to identify any issues as early as possible.
"This training will help staff in our early years settings to work more effectively with children and families so that all children can reach their full potential."