Houndsfield, Honilands and Ark John Keats primary schools will benefit from new nursery places by converting classrooms into “top quality early years spaces”

Nursery (credit Gautam Arora via Unsplash) — Photo by Gautam Arora on Unsplash

Three Enfield schools have been named among 300 where new or expanded school-based nurseries are being rolled out thanks to government funding.

Houndsfield Primary School in Edmonton, Honilands Primary School in Bullsmoor and Ark John Keats Academy in Enfield Wash will benefit from new nursery places by converting classrooms into “top quality early years spaces”.

From September, working parents will get 30 government-funded hours of childcare a week, from nine months of age up to starting school – saving parents up to £7,500 a year. The new government-funded nurseries will help deliver additional places needed for the scheme.

The first 300 schools will see an average of 20 childcare places per site, with up to 4,000 of these available by September and a further 2,000 later this autumn. Places will be focused in childcare ‘deserts’, where up until now families have been missing out due to a shortage of places.

Enfield North MP Feryal Clark welcomed the Labour government’s announcement and said: “I am thrilled that Honilands Primary School and Ark John Keats Academy [in Clark’s constituency] have been given funding as part of Labour’s plan to roll out school-based nurseries.

“I know from speaking to families across my constituency the need for high-quality education that is available nearby and doesn’t break the bank.

“I look forward to visiting the nursery when it opens in September. This is evidence that Labour’s plan for change is delivering for families and getting children school ready.”

The school-based nurseries announcement comes alongside the rollout of breakfast clubs in primary schools, with the first 750 schools set to launch later this month – saving families up to £450 a year.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “School-based nurseries are an essential plank of Labour’s plan for change, giving every child the best start in life.

“While the Tories made a childcare pledge without a plan, Labour is delivering on its promises.

“Alongside our plans to roll out free breakfast clubs, these high-quality childcare places will get thousands more children school ready, breaking the link between background and success for families across the country.”

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