HARLOW MP Bill Rammell has welcomed the new Sure Start project as great news for families in the town.

Harlow Sure Start is located at the old Maundeswood School site in Parnall Road, and has been allocated £5.8m over the next decade by the government to fund its work.

Sure Start is a major government initiative designed to work with parents and children to promote the physical, intellectual and social development of pre-school children to ensure they are ready to flourish when they start school.

The initiative offers local programmes which provide better access to family support, healthcare and early learning activities for families with children aged under four, and by spreading good practice from these local programmes to everyone involved in the delivery of services for young children.

Sure Start is a cornerstone project in the government's drive to improve education and social cohesion.

Mr Rammell said: "I'm delighted that families in Harlow are now benefiting from this major government initiative."

He said: "It's a real opportunity to support local parents and children throughout the year, providing children with play facilities that would not normally be available at home, while their parents can meet healthcare workers and support staff to get the help they need to improve their children's development."

The project is one of only 128 across the country at present, although many more are in the planning stage. Over the next few months, the programme will continue to expand as more support facilities are provided in partnership with local groups including midwifery, health visitors, a paediatric occupational therapy team, a speech therapy team, HomeStart, and women's support groups.