New nursery for Staffordshire thanks to £10k grant
A new nursery will be built in Staffordshire after £10,000 was secured to help disadvantaged families.
The county council successfully bid for the funding from the Department for Education and will add it to £50,000 of council funding to create the new facility in Chadsmoor.
The new centre will be run by Little Treasures Day Nursery and have almost 100 places when it opens in September 2016.
Chadsmoor was chosen because the area is one of Staffordshire's most deprived areas with one in three children eligible for free school meals.
The new funding is part of a project which sees money allocated to deprived areas where there is a demand for early years places.
Mike Lawrence, cabinet boss for children said he was thrilled the authority's hard work had paid off.
"There has been a shortage of provision in Chadsmoor since two private nurseries closed.
"We wanted to help young families there, but there wasn't a suitable site within walking distance, so we found a place in the right location and have spent £50,000 making fit for purpose.
"Once the nursery opens there will be 48 places morning and afternoon.
"Little Treasures, already has a nursery rated 'outstanding' in Penkridge and we think it will make a real difference to the community."
The council was one of only five authorities in the country to successfully bid for government funding to support this project.
The £10,000 can be used flexibly and Councillor Lawrence added: "This will allow us to work with families on different things. For example, in this area the obesity rate of children starting school is five per cent above the national average so this would be an opportunity for early help and intervention to make a difference."
A spokesperson from Little Treasures Day Nursery said: "We are incredibly excited to be part of this project and are eager to engage with local families in order to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children and give them the best possible start in life.
"The funding will enable us to market the business, making local families aware of the service we provide on their doorstep, such as organising open events to attract families from the local community."
