Crigglestone Nursery School to expand after being named in government childcare scheme
A Wakefield school is set to increase its number of nursery places after being included in a government scheme “to help fill childcare gaps.”
Extra places will be available at Crigglestone Nursery School from September after it was named among more than 300 schools across the country to benefit.
The schools are to receive a share of £45m of funding to build or expand nurseries on their site under the Best Start programme.
The Department for Education said it would create over 6,000 more childcare places, in addition to 7,000 already being delivered from the first phase of the scheme.
Labour said the roll-out formed part of its “wider programme to support families with the cost of living”, which included providing 30 hours of funded childcare for eligible working parents and free breakfast clubs.
Figures published this week indicated that over a million parents now used the government’s childcare offer, putting up to £8,000 a year back into family budgets.
Jade Botterill, Labour MP for Ossett and Denby Dale, said: “For young families across our area, childcare costs represent an enormous slice of their monthly budgets.
“This, amongst the broader cost of living crisis on families, is an absolute priority for me.
“This government is giving local families the support they need, and ensuring children growing up in Ossett and Denby Dale get the best start in life.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Too many families still struggle to find affordable childcare close to home, making it harder for parents to balance work and family life.
“School-based nurseries are already helping fill those gaps in communities where childcare is hardest to find, giving children the strong start they deserve and helping parents access childcare close to home.
“By expanding these nurseries further and targeting them at the areas that need them most, we are making sure more families can benefit from quality early education while putting practical support in place to help with the cost of living.