NOF's Building Neighbourhood Nurseries Programme is funding the building and renovation costs for four new nurseries in Grimsby, Newcastle, Telford and the Isle of Wight. The programme is intended to complement revenue funding which the Government is providing to nurseries under the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative.
KNL Childcare has received 90,000 to build a 43-place nursery in the Ryde area of the Isle of Wight. Nursery director Karen Bolan said, 'We are very excited by all of the facilities the nursery will be able to offer to the children and their parents.
'Larger open-plan areas, a multi-function community room and extensive outdoor play area mean we can offer a quality service that is safe, fun, affordable and easily supervised.'
The renovation of an existing creche to create the 28-place Butterflies Day Nursery in Grimsby is being funded by a 38,500 grant. The work is being overseen by Nunsthorpe and Bradley Park Development Foundation and the nursery hopes to help parents and carers go into employment and training.
Nursery manager Paula Maskill said, 'The places will be subsidised for the first three years and we are confident the nursery will be full and sustainable after that. We have had a high response from creche users who want a full day nursery, and we have had approaches from local parents about providing day provision after we achieved an outstanding Ofsted report.'
Students from priority wards attending Newcastle College will be able to access free places at Rye Hill Nursery after it received funding of 35,500 to build a 26-place nursery.
Telford and Wrekin Education Authority has received 80,000 to build Sure Starters, a 34-place nursery in the Newdale area on a site with a new school. Sure Start project leader Dylan Harrison said, 'This nursery will be unique in its child-centred approach to learning and play and will have the benefit of being able to utilise the facilities of the new school.'
NOF chair Baroness Jill Pitkeathley said, 'These grants demonstrate the diversity and ingenuity within local communities to generate solutions that create opportunities for both young children and their parents.'