Almost £600,000 secured to boost free childcare spaces in Northumberland

Northumberland County Council has secured a six-figure sum to create hundreds of new childcare places in the South East of the county.

It comes as new rules around free childcare for young children come into force in a bid to support families. Eligible working parents can now apply for 15 hours childcare for your child aged nine months to three years old and up to 30 hours for three and four-year-olds.

From September next year, children up to three will also get 30 hours. The council has secured £593,110 in Government capital funding to enhance childcare services so that eligible families can benefit from the national expansion.

READ MORE:Ashington brothers in court over serious 'road rage' incident on the A189

READ MORE:Holidaymaker says Turkey resort is 'finished' after being charged £15 for a single drink

The council is investing the funds in ten projects to increase capacity where it is most needed. These projects include new provisions and the expansion of existing facilities across Ashington, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Blyth, and Bedlington, where data shows the greatest gaps between childcare supply and demand.

There had been fears around the implementation of the policy, announced under the previous Government, due to a shortage of staff in the sector. Data from the education watchdog Ofsted showed that, just in 2023, 3,320 of the 62,300 nurseries and childminders for under-fives in England closed their doors for good, resulting in 17,800 fewer childcare places available nationwide.

Speaking last December, Northumberland County Council's director of education warned the county would need "hundreds" more early years providers. He added it would be a "challenge" to recruit the numbers.

Ten months later, cabinet member for children's services Coun Guy Renner Thompson said the council was "committed" to supporting families.

He said: "I’m delighted that we can now offer more childcare options to families across Northumberland than ever before. Childcare plays a vital role in communities, helping to reduce inequalities, close the attainment gap, and provide our youngest residents with the best start in life."

“The national childcare reforms are going to be transformative. As a council we are committed to making sure that families not only have access to more availability but also greater flexibility in how and where they can access high-quality childcare.

“This investment in South East Northumberland is just one of many projects underway. Our teams are working closely with early years providers across the county, from private nurseries to schools and childminders so support them to expand their services.

Among the new provisions set to open up is My Little Kingdom Day Nursery in Ashington. It is the second day nursery founded by friends and business partners Emma Fullwood and Sarah-Jane Sewell after they opened their first in Prudhoe five years ago.

The nursery will be based in the former St John's Ambulance daycare centre in John Street and will care for up to 80 children, creating dozens of new jobs in the process.

Emma said: “I’m so excited to open our second day nursery. Our key focus is on learning through nature and the building is perfect for what we were looking for, offering children the opportunity for both indoor and outdoor play.

"When I was bringing up my own family, the cost of childcare was a real challenge and I ended up starting my own cleaning business so I could work more flexibly around my children.

“It was then brilliant to come back into the sector and open our first nursery in 2019. I think the expansion of childcare support for families is going to make a huge difference.

"it will give families more choice and also means more children will be able to experience the benefits that quality early years provision can bring. I love my job and one of the best things is seeing the children come in and then being able to watch them grow into confident little humans ready for school.”