ABSTRACT
Early Excellence Centres (EEC) A programme to support integration of early education with day care. Twenty-nine pilot centres give high quality early education, child care and family support services and link up with other programmes such as Sure Start. They are community based and involve local education authority participation. Fourteen new Centres were announced by the Government in October 2001. (See also early years education)
Early Years Development and Child Care Partnerships (EYDCP) These partnerships, beginning in 1997, were extended to include child care the following year. Their purpose is to provide a forum in the 150 local education authorities where schools, employers, parents and colleges can supervise the provision of early education and child care and draw up plans for action. These include the year of entry to reception classes, early identification of special educational needs and the provision of child care after school. The deliberations of the Partnerships are available for the public from local education authorities.
