A SURE Start programme supporting families with children under four is planned for Newton Aycliffe and Shildon.

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has sanctioned the development of a programme in Shildon and the west of Aycliffe, which includes 743 children under four years.

An advance fund of just over £100,000 has been authorised to support the costs of recruiting staff, consulting with parents and producing a delivery plan, ahead of the launch in April.

Work has been under way for some months and a development group has finalised a delivery plan, which was submitted to the DfES in January.

A report to Sedgefield Borough Council's cabinet next week says: "The delivery plan provides a statement of the key vision and aims of partners to deliver improved services to families with children under the age of four.

"It aims to improve their future educational, health and emotional development outcomes."

Consultation events with service providers, parents and carers have identified the needs of children in the two areas. Issues included the parents' sense of isolation, the difficulty of getting good quality information, a lack of quality facilities for families and the need to access affordable childcare.

Other concerns raised included poor transport links, the need for increased individual support, the development of support groups and a greater range of activities.

The partnership behind the scheme is to apply for £1m of capital funding to provide indoor and outdoor play areas and an annual grant of up to £850,000 for revenue costs.

Consultations are to continue over the next few months, particularly in the west ward of Aycliffe where parental involvement in services is low. The cabinet will be asked to endorse the plan when it meets on Thursday.