CHILDREN who live in East Lancashire's poorest areas are to be given a flying start in their schooling, thanks to a £3million scheme pioneered in Darwen.

Burnley has been selected to bid for the next round of Sure Start, a government-backed initiative which will offer special help to pre-school youngsters to enable them to arrive at school 'happy, healthy and able to thrive.'

Pendle and Hyndburn are also on the list of areas which look set to benefit and that could mean East Lancashire receiving a total of £9million - with up to 3,000 children in the most improverished wards in the area standing to benefit.

The extension of the scheme, already a success in Sudell, Darwen, has been welcomed by the head of Burnley's patient care group.

Doctors groups, social services, health bodies, education and local authorities will combine to back the plan, which is likely to include the setting up of special local care centres and home visits.

Burnley has already selected Daneshouse as the focus for its bid after hearing the ward met the criteria for the number of pre-school children and poverty levels.

Burnley Primary Care Group is expected to be a leader of the local initiative and councillors have been told the bid is likely to succeed.

An officer's report said it was not a question of IF Burnley would be successful, but WHEN it would be included in the programme. That has left the way clear for an early submission, which could get the scheme under way next summer.

There will be detailed consultation with residents within Daneshouse, and particularly with parents of small children, over the next two months. Parental involvement at all levels is seen as a key to the success of the scheme. Dr Venkataswamy Narayana, chairman of Burnley's Primary Care group, said: "We will need to work closely with local people to ensure that the services offered through Sure Start truly meet the needs of children within the area.

"It should also enable us to review services available to people living in the rest of Burnley and Padiham."

The three-year scheme is also expected to attract extra resources from local health, social and education bodies.

The Government is making available £542 million over the next three years to establish at least 250 programmes across the country.

It could equate to about £3,500 being invested into every child in the scheme.

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