POLITICIANS in Trafford are celebrating news that Trafford is one of the top performing authority in the North West in providing free early education and childcare for two-year-old children.

In Greater Manchester, the local authority area of Trafford, was recently judged the second best performing council with 686 two year olds or 78.4per cent of those eligible children placed in the summer term 2.

According to the Tory controlled authority, the latest information it has for the autumn/winter term suggests that that figure has increased even further to 86 per cent of two-year-olds.

To help build further on those figures, Trafford Council, has recently contacted eligible families using its ‘Time for Toddlers’ campaign.

The Under-Secretary of State for Education, Sam Gyimah MP congratulated the council on its ‘commendable achievement’ and noted the authority had one of the highest take-up rates in the country.

Executive member for children’s services, Cllr Mike Cornes said ‘I am delighted with the efforts of all involved; to achieve such a high level of success is excellent.

"The council is committed to supporting our youngest children to enable them to get off to the best start in life through initiatives such as this, and encourages those families who have been contacted to take up the offer.’

For further information on the Early Education programme and eligibility go to:

http://www.trafford.gov.uk/residents/children-and-families/early-education/free-places-for-2-year-olds.aspx.