A MULTI-MILLION pound scheme that should drastically improve the lives of pre-school children is steaming ahead in Wear Valley.

A committee of parents and officials has been formed to drive forward a £2.5m Government initiative that aims to give children in deprived areas an equal start in life.

The committee means parents will be involved with every decision throughout the three-year scheme and they have already helped design a new £75,000 playground for the Woodhouse Close estate in Bishop Auckland.

The money is also to be targeted at two other Bishop Auckland wards, Henknowle and St Helen Auckland.

Wendy Sproates from Sure Start said: "At least 50 per cent of the committee is made up of people from the community. When it came to the playground it was parents who decided where they wanted it, what they wanted in it and short-listed companies they wanted to supply the equipment.

"It's definitely a working partnership between parents and professionals.

"When jobs come up within the scheme, whether it is for the position of manager or caretaker, they are interviewed by people from the committee."

The Sure Start initiative will also fund two doctors, one of whom will specialise in drugs misuse, and both will be on hand to provide parents with advice.

The money will also provide play equipment and childcare facilities.

Manager Carol Newsom said it is important children are given the same opportunities before they reached school, or they could spend the rest of their lives trying to catch up with their peers.

She said: "It's proven time and time again that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are going to school on a back foot.

"A lot of children from so-called deprived areas go into school with speech and language difficulties. They might only have a couple of words in their vocabulary.

"If we can improve their language skills, then immediately they're on a level playing field."

Sure Start Wear Valley will be officially launched on July 27, opposite Kwik Save supermarket in Tindale Crescent, where the £75,000 playground is currently being developed.