DOZENS of families with children at two York schools will benefit from a new partnership with a city-based childrens' charity.

The Big Futures Foundation (BFF) has agreed partnerships with Tang Hall Primary School and Haxby Road Primary Academy who between them cater for more than 450 children.

The two-year pilot programme will start in January next year and BFF will work with approximately 30 children and their families from the schools over that period.

BFF will provide the children with the emotional wellbeing support and life skills development needed for success in their education, work and personal lives from age five right through to when they go to work.

Claire Douglas, chairman of the BFF Trustees board, said: “BFF is a new charity with ambitious plans for all the children and families involved in our programmes.

"It’s a very exciting time as we start work in our first schools. To be able to help children in our local community to make good progress in their education, against the odds, is a real honour.

"York has some troubling statistics for the attainment gap at GCSE and A-level between children from disadvantaged backgrounds compared to children who aren’t disadvantaged.

"We’re determined to close the gap and see the kids have a big future and build a great life. The staff, children and parents of Tang Hall Primary and Haxby Road Primary Academy are excellent partners for us and we’re thoroughly looking forward to working with them over the next 6 years.”

Zoe Lightfoot, who was head at Haxby Road who the partnership was agreed, said: "We are excited to be able to work together: building academic resilience, sharing new opportunities and experiences to ensure we diminish the difference between children at risk of disadvantage and all children.

"Providing a joined-up service – working hand in hand with community partnerships, businesses, existing services and vulnerable families - is crucial in changing life outcomes.

"BFF gets this and we cannot wait to be working together to help all our children reach for the stars.”

BFF is based in York and supports children from disadvantaged backgrounds from age five right through school and through post 18 education to when they start work.

They help children and their families with their emotional resilience, wellbeing and life skills.

Their goal is to help all children, no matter their background, reach their potential in the classroom and the workplace.

Haxby Road Primary Academy has 265 children on roll and Tang Hall School has about 200 children.