Home Local News Knowsley secures funding to create additional nursery places

Knowsley secures funding to create additional nursery places

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Knowsley Council has today received confirmation that it has secured just over £400,000 of funding from the Department for Education to extend its early years provision in the borough.

The Council submitted a bid for capital funding to expand childcare provision in Knowsley. The bid focussed on the refurbishment of St Brigid’s School Sports and Arts Centre in Stockbridge Village, along with a new building to be constructed at Prescot Primary School.

From September 2017, eligible parents can claim up to 30 hours of free childcare for three and four year olds. The funding, totalling £404,756, will be used to ensure there is sufficient provision to cope with demand when the increase in hours for free childcare comes into effect later this year.

The two projects are expected to create an additional 130 nursery places by September 2017.
All three and four year olds are currently entitled to 15 hours of free childcare each week. From September 2017, working parents may be entitled to even more hours of free childcare. If you are eligible, you can take up to 1,140 hours flexibly throughout the year, in a school, academy or with a registered childcare provider, including childminders. The hours can also be split across more than one childcare provider.

Cllr Joan Lilly, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said “This is fantastic news that we have been able to secure Government funding and ensure we will be better equipped to maintain our excellent nursery and pre-school provision across the borough in modern and purpose built facilities.”

Both projects are subject to planning approval. The supporting planning documents will now be prepared and are expected to be presented to the Council’s Planning Committee in early spring.

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