Six figure investment creates 400 new early years and wraparound childcare places for families in Northumberland
19 Sep 2024
To find out more about childcare availability and support in Northumberland as well as the latest jobs available in the sector visit the Family Services Directory here.
Over 400 new early years and wraparound childcare places are being created across South East Northumberland.
Northumberland County Council has secured £593,110 in Government capital funding to enhance childcare services so that eligible families can benefit from the national expansion to free childcare for children from nine months old.
This will help create over 400 new childcare places where they are needed most - offering more options for families to find high-quality and flexible early years and wraparound care.
Government-funded childcare support for working families is expanding - including gradually introducing 30 hours of free childcare per week for children over nine months old by September 2025.
If you are an eligible working parent in England, you can now apply for:
- 15 hours childcare for your child aged nine months to three years old, rising to 30 hours from September 2025
- 30 hours childcare for your three and four-year-old.
As part of its wider plan to meet the increased demand in places across the county, the Council is investing the funds to support ten projects designed to increase childcare capacity where it is needed most.
These projects include new provisions and the expansion of existing facilities across Ashington, Newbiggin, Blyth, and Bedlington, where data shows the greatest gaps between childcare supply and demand.
Among the new provisions opening their doors is My Little Kingdom Day Nursery in Ashington. An outdoor-led forest school and nursery, it is the second day nursery founded by friends and business partners Emma Fullwood and Sarah-Jane Sewell who opened their first provision in Prudhoe in 2019.
Thanks to a successful bid for the funding, the entrepreneurs have now breathed new life into the former St John’s Ambulance daycare centre in John Street, transforming it into an inspiring learning environment for up to 80 children and creating dozens of new jobs and apprenticeships.
Opposite Ashington Station on the new Northumberland Line, the nursery is ideally located to build on and support the opportunities being created by the re-opening of rail passenger services and the multi-million regeneration programme aimed at revitalising the town centre.
Open days will take place on Saturday September 21 and 28, giving families the chance to take a tour around the new nursery before it officially opens next month.
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.
“Being right opposite the Northumberland Line and the new station is also brilliant – not only will it be handy for parents on their commute, but exciting for the children to watch the trains going past every day.”
Emma, an experienced early years professional, also understands the importance of access to affordable and high-quality childcare from bringing up her own family.
She said: “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 as babies and then being able to watch them grow into confident little humans ready for school.”
Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet member for Inspiring Young People, 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 and 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 and 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.
“We’ve made it easier to find childcare available in your area, with our new
Northumberland Family Services Directory having all the information in one place including how to apply for childcare support.”
To find out more about childcare availability and support in Northumberland as well as the latest jobs available in the sector visit the Family Services Directory here.