NURSERIES across the borough are leading the way in a new approach to health and progress checks for two-year-old children.

Up until now infants have a health review at a clinic and a separate progress check at nursery when they are two but a new initiative - which is being implemented by Wigan Council in partnership with Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust - will see these integrated.

Penny Crouzet from the Department of Health visited Brooklands Nursery in Hindley on Thursday, December 19, to observe the scheme which joins both services together.

Anne Goldsmith, Director for Children and Families at Wigan Council said: “By working in partnership with Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Trust, the council can really start to improve early intervention and prevention to make sure our young children are getting the best support possible.”

Brooklands is one of 58 nurseries who are implementing the review and by April 2014 all nurseries in Wigan will be involved in working in this way.