article_snippet: An academy school is now accepting pupils from birth after launching a 'cradle to university' scheme to help youngsters get ahead.
article_snippet: It was a government initiative first adopted by St Bede Academy in Bolton, Greater Manchester, to help tackle issues in early years, including speech and language acquisition.
article_snippet: Headteacher at NCEA, Andrew Day, said: 'We want to be able to do the best for every single child and believe that having children from cradle to university is the best way to do this. '
article_snippet: Up to 50 per cent of our children starting school have speech and language acquisition issues and we hope that this will help address such issues. '
article_snippet: Evidence suggests that educational outcome is set from the age of two for the vast majority of children. '
article_snippet: The academy, which caters for pupils up to the age of 19, has a centre for children with profound and severe learning difficulties.
article_snippet: The academy, which caters for pupils up to the age of 19 also recently opened three new early years centres offering 120 free nursery places for eligible two-year-olds.
article_snippet: Clare Lishman, the academy's director of early years, said: 'This is an exciting expansion to our early years provision. '
article_snippet: Research shows that it is the quality of our early years provision, whether it is in a nursery setting or with a childminder, that delivers the best long term benefits for a child's development. '
article_snippet: Rapid development takes place between the ages zero and three and investing in early years provision is vital to equip children with the skills children need to start children education.
article_snippet: The Ofsted-approved scheme was first piloted in the summer 2013 with 20 organisations nationwide, including primary schools, nurseries and councils.
highlights_snippet: Government scheme helps tackle issues early including speech acquisition .
  