Sure Start Initiative

As a result of the government initiative to support children and families in social priority areas SureStart Peterlee was established in August 2000. 

A team of professionals with backgrounds in health, education and social services worked directly with parents to support their children's development. This area in Peterlee was targeted by Jamie Oliver in his series 'Jamie's Dinners' because of concerns relating to nutrition, behaviour and learning.

Pre-schoolers aged between 18 months and three years from Peterlee SureStart are taking part in a trial, the first of its kind, to see whether the omega-3 supplement which was found to be so successful in the Durham Trial could be effective in improving concentration and behaviour in younger children. Instead of capsules the children were given a single sachet of a tropical flavoured emulsion.

Curently 60 children are involved in the trial which is due to run until March 2006. Early results are encouraging. Parents report that their children are less excitable and more keen to learn. Improvements are evident in both expressive and receptive language skills and parents are able to engage their children for longer in conversation and in looking at books.

The improvement in skills relates directly to the developing relationship between the parent and child. In the early years parents are their children's teachers and improving the quality of the time they spend together improves the outcomes for the child.

A reduction in hyperactivity results in improving concentration. Parents report that they are spending more time playing and engaging with their children. Although we have been able to measure improvements in the children's social and cognitive skills following supplementation, it is largely the improvements in concentration which have brought about these changes.

Click here for the results.