The Early Years and Childcare Service plans and develops services for pre-school age children and childcare for children up to the age of 19.
The Service manages the local Sure Start Children's Centres, the Take and Play (TAP ) Toy Library, a Development Team for childcare places; a Training programme and a Children's Information Service.
The Service convenes on behalf of Gateshead Council a Partnership of the voluntary, private and maintained childcare and early years sectors. Gateshead Early Years and Childcare Partnership provides a consultative forum for the Service and a local network for sharing information and resources.