The Flying Start Day Nursery, which opened in 2001 at Robin Hood Airport in Doncaster, is to double in size when building work on a £1.2m extension is completed in June.
Owners Martin and Carol Cooper were awarded the grant by the DCSF after successfully applying to become a workplace nursery. Through the workplace nursery scheme, private settings can link up with local businesses to offer tax and National Insurance exemptions on childcare fees to employees. Nursery places that are accessed through a workplace nursery scheme are fully exempt from tax and NI contributions, unlike childcare vouchers, which are capped at £243 per month.
The new-look Flying Start will offer 80 childcare places - twice its current capacity - plus three large activity rooms, a 12-place baby unit, a large separate outdoor play area, a vegetable garden, sensory garden and a soft play area.
Mr Cooper said, 'The children think the construction work is wonderful, it's a fantastic distraction. It will be brilliant when the extension is completed and hopefully we can play our part in attracting businesses to the site.'
Ms Flint, Labour MP for Don Valley and Minister for Europe, added, 'I have long believed that you cannot have modern business development without the support services and suppliers in the vicinity, and for modern businesses that includes childcare. Martin and Carol deserve congratulations for pursuing this bid and I am delighted that they are able to expand.'