Child's play for all

Crack open the Ribena - Hull tots have a lot to celebrate. Every three-year-old in the city can now have a free nursery place - two years ahead of Government targets. From the beginning of April, Hull Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership gained almost £850,000 Government funding.

In addition to free school places already available, this was expected to fund others in preschool playgroups, private day nurseries and independent schools registered with the partnership.

The new funding is enough to give all of Hull's 3,000 three-year-olds access to free part-time nursery education, equivalent to five sessions of two and a half hours a week. Contact Children's Information Service on 223344.

North Hull Adventure Playground has won a £41,600 grant from the Childcare Partnership to develop the city's first 'TotsZone' for under-5s.