Royal Greenwich Scheme Offers Two-year-olds A Head Start And A Boost

by our RBG Correspondent | Woolwich

* Cllr Miranda Williams and a parent
chat with a child at Cardwell. (Credit: RBG)

The Council is urging parents in the Royal Borough of Greenwich to take advantage of a scheme that offers two-year-old children a head start before they go to school.

The Together for Twos scheme offers up to 15 hours of free early learning each week to two-year-olds whose families are on certain types of income-based benefits, or who are on a low income and in receipt of working tax credits.

Together for Twos is part of a national programme which aims to improve children’s development through good quality early learning while giving parents and carers the opportunity to return to work or training.

The free Together for Twos places are available at a range of early years providers including childminders, nurseries, pre-school playgroups, crèches, children’s centres and some schools.

All childcare providers in the scheme have a ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ Ofsted grading.

Cllr Miranda Williams, The Royal Borough’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Early learning is a great way to give children a head start before they go to school and I would urge families to take advantage of the Together for Twos scheme if they can.

“Just go along to your local children’s centre to find out if you are eligible – and discover all the other services the centres have to offer.”

Residents can find out more about Together for Twos at their local children’s centres, which also offer a range of other services for families with children under the age of five.

As well as support and advice about going back to work they can find suggestions about how to help their children to learn and play at home.

The centres also offer support for childminders and parents of children with special needs and disabilities as well as links to local schools, out-of-school activities and information on childcare services, plus much more.

For full details of the Together for Twos scheme, contact your local children’s centre or visit www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/earlylearning.

Or contact the Royal Greenwich Families Information Service (FIS) by emailing fis@royalgreenwich.gov.uk or calling 020 8921 6921.

Parents are invited to use Twitter to share their experiences of how their children are benefiting from free early learning – use the hashtag #TogetherForTwos.

* Cllr Miranda Williams watch as Cardwell
children try it our with cooking utensils.
(Credit: RBG)