A £500,000 project has been launched as part of a four-year programme to improve education on a Sunderland estate.
The Quality Time Project encourages parents in the Pennywell area to become involved in early years learning by working with their children at home and in school.
It has been funded by the Government's Single Regeneration Budget, with additional support from the Education Action Zone.
The scheme will focus on raising numeracy and communication skills among children aged between nine months and seven years old.
It is estimated 2,000 pupils will benefit from the project which involved nine schools in the Pennywell area.
Coordinator Claire Harrison said: "We are convinced that by capturing children at an early age, this will give them the best start in their educational development.
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