School's nursery expansion financed by government cash
A NEW ‘best start’ nursery is to open at Roughwood Primary School in Rotherham following a successful bid for government cash.
It is one of more than 300 nationally to get a slice of £45m funding, creating new spaces for youngsters in the Kimberworth area.
That is said to be worth up to £8,000 per year, for every child a family has using the service
The new nurseries are expected to come on line from the September term.
Rotherham MP Sarah Champion said: “The cost of living for families in Rotherham at the forefront of my mind as your MP. That’s why the news that childcare costs have halved under Labour is so welcome.
“There’s more we can do to make childcare more accessible and affordable. That’s why I wrote to local schools, encouraging them to join the Best Start scheme and open up new nurseries.
“Today, we’re seeing the benefits of a Labour MP working with a Labour government, to back our schools with funding, back our families with support and give children growing up in Rotherham the best start in life.”
The new £45m will take the total number of new places created to more than 13,000 nationally.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “School-based nurseries are already driving a seismic shift in how childcare supports families. “Now we’re going even further to build on what works with over 300 new nurseries – cutting childcare costs, simplifying the school run, and helping parents at a time when household budgets are under real pressure.
“This is about targeting support where it’s needed most, easing the cost of living and giving every child 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.”