The funding will be used to extend the universal 15 hours to 30 hours for vulnerable and disadvantaged three- and four-year olds, who would not otherwise be entitled to it.
LEYF is calling on the new minister for children, families and wellbeing, Claire Coutinho, to provide urgent funding to increase access to the 30-hour offer to children whose parents do not earn enough to qualify for the extra funded hours.
Currently parents need to work a minimum of 16 hours a week on average, at the national minimum wage or national living wage rates or above, in order to qualify for 30-hour childcare.
Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, visited Katharine Bruce Nursery and Pre-School (LEYF) in Queen's Park, last week.
His charitable foundation, the Westminster Foundation, has just committed to a five-year funding partnership with LEYF, worth £750,000.
The social enterprise nursery group said that the money ‘will help improve access to early years education for some of the capital’s poorest children currently locked out of the additional hours funding enjoyed by their better off peers.’
June O’Sullivan, CEO of LEYF, said, ‘Whilst this generous five-year funding partnership with the Westminster Foundation will help us to double the number of hours of funded Early Years education for some of London's children who need it the most, we urgently request that our newly formed government understands why a change in policy is so critical and acts accordingly. Remember, these are the poorest three- and four-year olds who are locked out of crucial learning opportunities simply because their parents don’t earn enough.’
The Duke of Westminster, chair of the Westminster Foundation, said, ‘There are sadly too many young children across London living in poverty and unable to access sufficient early years education.
‘That is deeply worrying given the significant impact that a child’s experience in their early years has on their physical and emotional development. Seeing the huge smiles on all the children’s faces at Katharine Bruce Nursery is a brilliant reminder of the importance of nursery education. We fully support the London Early Years Foundation’s efforts to try and widen access to Early Years education for those who need it most.’
Earlier this month LEYF said it had successfully raised £1.5m through a charity bond, which is promoted by Triodos Bank’s crowdfunding platform, to help fund the acquisition of more nurseries.
In May, the social enterprise, which operates 39 settings in London, launched a seven-year charity bond with a target of £1.5m to help it achieve its plans of doubling its number of sites.