Markus Spiske via Unsplash | @markusspiske
Stephen has welcome the creation of a new “Best Start” nursery which will open at Monega Primary School, in Forest Gate.
The nursery will create additional childcare places for families in Manor Park and Forest Gate. The expansion is part of a national programme that is supporting more than 300 schools to develop or extend nursery provision from September.
School-based nurseries are intended to offer additional childcare close to home, reduce travel time for families, and support parents who are balancing work and caring responsibilities. They also provide a single drop-off location for families with children of different ages.
Across the country, 331 schools have been allocated a share of £45 million in capital funding to build or expand nurseries on their sites. The new Best Start nurseries will create more than 6,000 additional childcare places, building on the first phase of the programme.
Recent national figures show that over a million parents now use government‑funded childcare schemes. These include funded hours for eligible working parents and free breakfast clubs, which aim to support family budgets and improve access to early education.
Speaking about the announcement, Stephen said: “Families in East Ham regularly raise the importance of accessible childcare and support for parents balancing work and family life. I contacted local schools last year to highlight the Best Start programme and the opportunity to expand nursery places in our area.
“I am pleased that Monega has now been successful in its application and will be able to provide new childcare places for local families.”