Skip to content

High contrast

'Lift Off' for new nursery as Minister for Children and Local MP open Sunshine Corner

NEWS RELEASE

27 October 2004

'Lift Off' for new nursery as Minister for Children and Local MP open Sunshine Corner

Children and parents welcomed very special guests to open a brand new childcare facility in Aylesham, Kent today. The Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP, Minister for Children and Gwyn Prosser, MP for Dover joined the celebrations and launched balloons to mark the official opening of the Pre-school Learning Alliance's Neighbourhood Nursery in Aylesham.

Sunshine Corner is the first Pre-school Learning Alliance Neighbourhood Nursery to open in Kent. The facility is designed to meet the needs of local parents in providing flexible, affordable, high quality daycare, offering 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.

Built as part of the Government's Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative, Sunshine Corner is a brand new facility in an area of social and economic need. It utilises unique interior design, ensuring that all children have access to an exciting and fun space for play and learning. Our design has now been adopted by Lilliput as their new Children's Centre model. The nursery offers full daycare five days a week, providing a home from home environment for children between six weeks old and school age.

Commenting on the nursery's opening, The Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP, Minister for Children said:

"I am delighted to open the Sunshine Corner Neighbourhood Nursery. It is a really good example of what the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative is all about — affordable, flexible childcare in areas where parents need it most".

Gwyn Prosser, MP for Dover said:

"Sunshine Corner demonstrates what can be achieved by local partners when they work together. The Pre-school Learning Alliance, the local authority, Aylesham Primary School and the Countryside Agency have all worked together in genuine partnership to make this nursery a reality. This is a first class childcare facility that will help to ensure that all local children get the best possible start in life, while providing crucial learning opportunities for parents".

Sara Garrity, Nursery Centre Manager said:

"It is very exciting for us welcome our special guests to witness the enormous amount of hard work that has been done to date. The nursery's dedicated staff and volunteers are looking forward to offering the local community a whole package of early education, childcare and family support".

Judith Thompson, Chair of the Pre-school Learning Alliance said:

"We are delighted to officially open Sunshine Corner, the first Pre-school Learning Alliance Neighbourhood Nursery in Kent. This unique facility marks a new departure for the charity. With the nursery, managed by the Alliance and housed in this excellent community school, with full integration between teachers and nursery workers, there will be many opportunities for adult and family learning to take place in a friendly environment".

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Louise Banks
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7278 9037
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531 130
E: Louise Banks

Notes for Editors:

  1. The opening of the Sunshine Corner Neighbourhood Nursery took place today. The nursery is housed on the site of Aylesham Primary School, Attlee Avenue, Aylesham, Canterbury, Kent, CT3 3BS.
  2. The Pre-school Learning Alliance is establishing a network of over 30 Neighbourhood Nurseries nationwide. The Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative is a Government initiative designed to create childcare in some of most disadvantaged wards in the country.
  3. The Pre-school Learning Alliance links 15,000 pre-schools and 500,000 young children and their families in England. Registered as an educational charity, the Alliance is the national dimension of the pre-school movement.
  4. The Charity is currently running a campaign changing lives, changing life, which seeks to ensure that all children get the best possible start in life. Further information about the campaign can be found at www.pre-school.org.uk or by contacting the Campaigns Team on 020 7833 0991.
1