In-school nursery funding will help children get 'school ready', headteacher says
The Government’s investment in 40 new in-school nurseries in Yorkshire and the Humber will help children start education “school ready”, a headteacher has said.
Since Covid, there has been a significant rise in youngsters beginning reception while still wanting to use a dummy or unable to go to the toilet.
Hillsborough Primary School, in Sheffield, is one of 40 schools in the region to benefit from the nursery funding announced today by the Department for Education.
It will take on tots from the age of two and headteacher Nicola Wileman said she was confident the spaces would be filled up.
She told The Yorkshire Post that this “will support parents on their journey to get their children school ready, and is absolutely imperative for us so that more children leave us with better outcomes”.
“The outcomes that they get at the age of five can really impact the outcomes at GSCE level, and there have been studies that show this correlation,” she said.
“That development of curiosity, that love of learning happens down in early years.
“It’s about ensuring they are independent, resilient and creative human beings because that sets them up for Year 1.
“We’ve seen children that can’t toilet themselves and that hinders their learning because no child wants to sit in wet clothes.
“If they’ve still got a dummy, it’s hindering their speech development and communication and language.
“If that child can’t zip up their coat then their independence is being hindered, and they’re less likely to do things and try things and be resilient.”
Overall, there will be an additional 800 new in-school nursery places across the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Our school-based nurseries are already helping fill the gaps in communities where childcare is hardest to find, giving children the strong start they deserve and helping parents access childcare close to home.
“By expanding these nurseries further and targeting them at the areas that need them most, we are making sure more families can benefit from quality early education while putting practical support in place to help with the cost of living.
“For too long, where a child grows up has shaped what they go on to achieve. This government was elected to change that – starting with giving every child the best start in life and making sure every family can access the childcare they need, wherever they live.”
The nurseries allow parents to drop children of different ages off in one place, cutting travel time and helping the youngsters settle more easily into school life.
Ms Wileman added: “A lot of our parents have been really keen to get their children into school younger, and have that community base for their family.
“For us as a school now being able to make that happen will only strengthen our community focus.
“In this area a couple of nurseries have closed down and that made it tight for parents, so we’re hoping that by providing this service that will enable our families to go back out and seek work.”