Pre-school children in Wigtownshire, south-west Scotland, are being given a head start in reading and literacy skills through access to a library of story bags. Early Literacy Kids (ELK), which supplies the story bags, arose out of the Scottish Executive's early years best practice initiative, which seeks to spread innovation and excellence in the delivery of education and childcare. The ELK scheme now covers 400 children in 12 pre-school education centres between Stranraer and Newton Stewart.