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NEWS RELEASE

4 December 2003

Peter Luff MP to open new neighbourhood nursery in Westlands

When: Friday 12 December 2003 at 12-2pm
Where: W.A.N.D.S Neighbourhood Nursery, Farmers Way, Westlands, Droitwich Spa
What: New Neighbourhood Nursery Official Opening

Peter Luff MP will officially open the Pre-school Learning Alliance's Neighbourhood Nursery in Westlands, Droitwich Spa on 12 December.

W.A.N.D.S Neighbourhood Nursery, is the first Pre-school Learning Alliance nursery in Worcestershire. The nursery is part of a Sure Start Children's Centre, which meets the needs of local parents in providing flexible, affordable, high quality daycare that enables them to work or train according to need. The nursery offers young children the chance to learn through play in a stimulating and nurturing environment. It also provides a facility for parents to get to know other people and to drop in for advice and social opportunities.

The nursery is situated on the Westlands Estate, Droitwich Spa, which is in one of the 30 per cent most deprived wards in England. It is an area of severe economic and social need. The new neighbourhood nursery will provide a safe, and friendly place for parents to meet with their children.

Peter Luff MP, said:

"It will be a great honour to open this nursery, which I know will be warmly welcomed into the community at Westlands. There can be little of greater importance than ensuring every child gets a good start in life by spending time in a secure, warm and creative environment. This nursery will be hugely important for local children."

The nursery offers full daycare five days a week. The setting provides a home from home for children between six weeks old and school age and the children have somewhere to play, learn and succeed.

Karen Chidlow, Project Manager at Westlands Sure Start said:

"It is very exciting for Sure Start to have this joint project with the neighbourhood nursery which enables us to offer the whole package of early education, childcare, health and family support to the Westlands community."

W.A.N.D.S Nursery embodies the ethos of parental involvement, which is a key part of the Pre-school Learning Alliance Campaign, changing lives changing life. The Campaign is seeking, via its Charter for Parents and the Early Years, to obtain a childcare or nursery place for every child that needs one. The Campaign is also calling for the involvement and full consultation of parents in their child's early education; continuity of care for children; and a commitment to ensure a better deal for the voluntary sector as a major contributor to universal childcare.

Helen Guyler, Nursery Manager commented:

"The neighbourhood nursery has only been open for a short while but already the feedback I'm receiving from parents is very positive, the whole building is having a very uplifting effect on the Westlands community."

The Pre-school Learning Alliance is establishing a network of over 25 Neighbourhood Nurseries nationwide. Our involvement in the Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative ensures that children and families have early years provision where it is needed most.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Margaret Jones
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 0121 643 0063
Out of hours press calls:
E: Margaret Jones

Notes for Editors:

  1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance has 15,000 member pre-schools who look after 500,000 young children and their families in England every year. Registered as an educational charity, the Alliance is the national dimension of the pre-school movement. Its member pre-schools are based in the community and most are managed and run by parents, alongside trained staff.
  2. The charity is involved in more Sure Start projects than any other organisation and aims to open around 30 Neighbourhood Nurseries by the end of the year.
  3. Pre-school Learning Alliance members receive a regular magazine (Under Five) reflecting issues affecting the early years sector. If you would like to receive a copy of this please call 020 7833 0991.
  4. Further information and all press releases are available on the Pre-school Learning Alliance's website: www.pre-school.org.uk or email pressoffice@pre-school.org.uk
  5. The charity recently launched the next phase of its changing lives changing life campaign, which seeks to give all children the best possible start in life. For more information visit www.pre-school.org.uk or call 020 7833 0991
  6. The opening of the W.A.N.D.S Neighbouhood Nursery will take place at the W.A.N.D.S Centre, Farmers Way, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, WR9 9EQ.
  7. For further details and a leaflet on the Pre-school Learning Alliance NNI project in Worcestershire please contact Margaret Jones, Regional Executive Officer on 0121 643 0063. Further details about the nursery are available from Helen Guyler, Nursery Manager on 01905 827 394.
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