CRAVEN'S under fives are comparatively well served for pre-school education despite the lack of nurseries in the district.

Ministers have promised to double the number of free nursery places available for three year olds by 2002 and in January it announced it had created 76,000 new childcare places across the country, approaching its annual target of 82,000 in just six months.

In Skipton there are nursery schools in Otley Street, Brougham Street and Ings while in Craven there are nurseries in Glusburn, High Bentham, Ingleton and Settle.

Primary schools in Cowling, Kildwick, Gargrave, Hellifield, Austwick, Clapham, Grassington, Threshfield, Arncliffe, Cracoe and at Christ Church and St Stephen's in Skipton have no nursery class.

However, although there are no nurseries in these areas, experts say the children's needs are being met by the high quality of playgroups.

Diane McConnell, of the county council's childcare and development partnership, said: "We are very proud in the partnership that we do have such excellent voluntary and private providers who in terms of quality assurance, training and facilities are really extremely good."

Parents should not feel that their children are missing out with both playgroups and nurseries advocating learning through play.

Shan Lockwood, acting chairman of the Craven branch of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said: "There shouldn't be any difference between a good nursery and a good playgroup.

"Pre-school children learn through play to get the foundation skills.

"To teach a child to write you should give them painting and collage activities to do because they are fun and will help them adjust to holding a pencil. You learn to write by first holding a paintbrush and then a pencil.

"Playgroups are inspected by Ofsted to the same standard as nurseries and playgroups. Also they often have a much better adult to child ratio and that is very important.

"All the playgroups in Craven most of which have been Ofsted inspected, can offer free playgroup places to four year olds so they are receiving the same free place which the child would have if it attended a nursery."

Parents and carers can find out more about the early years provision in their area by visiting the website www.nyorks.gov.uk\cis\

Carolyn Bird, the county council's early years service development manager, said: "The Skipton area is quite well provided for. The Government is increasing the number of places available nationally and the first batch of places are going in next year.

"Although North Yorkshire did not get much of the money this year the money we have will be used to provide education for children with special needs in areas where there isn't any local education authority provision at the moment. We will be bidding for funding again next year."

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