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Colin Challen MP to open new neighbourhood nursery in Leeds

NEWS RELEASE

9 July 2004

Colin Challen MP to open new neighbourhood nursery in Leeds

When: Friday 9th July 2004 at 12-2pm
Where: Middleton Play and Learning Centre, Pre-school Learning Alliance Neighbourhood Nursery, Throstle Lane, Middleton
What: New Neighbourhood Nursery Official Opening

Colin Challen MP will officially open the Pre-school Learning Alliance's Neighbourhood Nursery in Middleton, Leeds on Friday 9th July 2004.

Middleton Play and Learning Centre, is the first Pre-school Learning Alliance Neighbourhood Nursery in Leeds. The nursery 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 centre which houses this nursery is situated in the grounds of Middleton Primary School. The nursery also provides a safe and friendly environment for parents and their children to play and learn together in our family drop in sessions.

Colin Challen MP for Morley and Rothwell, said:

"I am delighted that the Pre-school Learning Alliance have chosen to open a play and learning centre in Middleton. This will be a very welcome addition to the facilities that are increasingly available to parents in the area, which in the past has suffered from high levels of unemployment and deprivation. It is essential to break that cycle, and the availability of high quality childcare is an essential component in that effort. I look forward to opening the centre on Friday."

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.

Liz Stelmach, Regional Executive Officer at North East Region Pre-school Learning Alliance said:

"It is a pleasure to be associated with such an excellent service as that provided by the Play & Learning Centre. Whenever I visit the Centre there are happy children busy playing and learning, with committed, knowledgeable staff ready to meet the needs of children and parents."

Sonjia Pollard, Nursery Manager commented:

"The Play and Learning Centre has been open since July 2002 and although the drop in and pre-school sessions have been a valuable service to the community we were unable to accommodate for parents going back into full time work or training. We became a Neighbourhood Nursery in January 2004 which has enabled us to expand our services to meet the needs of working and training parents. Many of our parents who are thinking about going back to work or attending courses now have the opportunity to leave their child in a familiar environment with childcare workers they know and trust."

The Pre-school Learning Alliance is establishing a network of over 30 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:

Liz Stelmach
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 0113 252 2848
Out of hours press calls:
E: Liz Stelmach

Notes for Editors:

  1. The opening of the Middleton Play and Learning Neighbourhood Nursery will be held at, Middleton Play and Learning Centre, Throstle Lane, Middleton, Leeds, LS10 4JD.
  2. For further details and a leaflet on the Pre-school Learning Alliance NNI project in Leeds please contact Liz Stelmach, Regional Executive Officer on 0113 252 2848. Further details about the nursery are available from Sonjia Pollard, Nursery Manager on 0113 2775323.
  3. 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. 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.
  4. 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
  5. 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.
  6. 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
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