A £2M scheme providing hundreds of disadvantaged children with free pre-school learning is to be piloted in east Durham.

Durham County Council's Sure Start project has been chosen to run the scheme over the next two years.

The council is one of 16 local authorities in the country to be selected for the pilot, which will offer structured learning and development to two-year-olds in the Easington district.

From next month, east Durham toddlers will have access to seven-and-a-half hours of pre-school learning over a three-day-week.

There will initially be places for 300 children rising to 1,081 by January.

The pilot follows the 2004 Effective Provision of Pre-School Education Report (EPPE), which found that children received significant learning, emotional and social benefits from high quality pre-school experiences.

Frank Firth, of Sure Start County Durham, said: "The EPPE study suggests that children in disadvantaged areas receive particular benefit from a structured learning environment.

"We plan to build on the excellent partnerships we have developed with the private and voluntary sector to ensure an innovative approach can be met by the resources available."

County councillor Neil Foster, cabinet member for children's services, said securing the pilot project was "great news for County Durham".

He said: "This clearly is an excellent opportunity for children in County Durham to benefit from an innovative approach.

"The pilot will put us at the forefront of understanding the benefits, outcomes and impact a structured learning experience will offer our children at two years.

"It is important that we learn from the studies like EPPE and implement those findings to ensure we can give children, particularly in disadvantaged areas, the best possible start.

"The pilot is about inclusion and encouraging opportunity for children and parents to engage in early years' provision."

For information about the scheme call 0800 917 2917.