More than £3 million is being poured into schools in south Bradford with the start of an Education Action Zone.

The zone - which encompasses 12 primary schools, three special schools and four secondary schools - will see more than £1 million a year during the next three years being spent on improving education. The target area includes Holme Wood, East Bowling, Bierley, Little Horton and Tong Street.

Bernard Dady, zone director, said the funding was a real coup.

"The zone will mean long-term strategies to raise standards of education and encourage children to consider ongoing learning in and beyond school as well as making young people aware of the opportunities available to them," he said. "It will also encourage parents to support their children and take more of an active role when it comes to education."

Funding is secured for the first three years, which could be expanded a further two.

Targets of the zone include:

IMPROVING basic skills - literacy and numeracy.

INVOLVING parents as co-educators.

INCREASING motivation and reducing disaffection.

CREATING school and community projects.

FORGING inter-school links.

IMPROVING quality of teaching and learning.

Schools in the zone will be equipped with computers giving children, teachers and parents the opportunity to develop IT skills.

Andrina Mapplebeck, head of Canterbury Children's Centre, Basil Street, Little Horton, said inclusion in the zone would improve their services.

"We want to give children the best start in life. If we get it right in the early years we can set them on the right road," she said.

"We have just received an excellent Ofsted report but now we can build on that and hope to receive many more."

Ros Stansfield, head teacher at Usher Street Primary School, East Bowling, said it would mean closer links with other schools in the area.

"The key to the zone is teamwork and by building on that we can provide the best for our children," she said.

The scheme will kick off with a Bobby Charlton Soccer School on Thursday, featuring a presentation by Bradford City players.

l e-mail: carolyne.coyle@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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