Nickie Aiken, Member of Parliament for the Cities of London & Westminster, was delighted to bring the Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, Claire Coutinho MP, on a visit to LEYF Nurseries to show her the vital work the team provide to support children and parents.
The Government has revolutionised childcare, expanding 30 hours of free childcare for children over the age of nine months, and putting it at the top of their agenda.
On the visit, Nickie showed the Minister the critical work at LEYF as well as heard from the team about the difference this expansion will make to them and the support to children and parents they would continue to be able to provide.
Nickie said,
"Today I have brought the Minister for Children and Families, Claire Coutinho to the Marsham Street LEYF Nursery in the heart of Westminster to show her what a brilliant set up this is. My children went to LEYF Nurseries over in Pimlico. Claire, what did you think of your visit? What was your impression of today?"
Minister for Children and Families, Claire Coutinho MP, replied,
"Thank you so much for bringing me here. It was a wonderful visit. It's amazing to see what LEYF Nurseries are doing in terms of early years education and making sure that our littlest ones are having the best possible future.
"I think this really has been at the top of parents’ agendas because when I talk to families across the country, one of the things they've been struggling with is the cost of childcare and availability of childcare. So I'm really pleased that we put our money where our mouth is. We're making the single largest-ever investment into childcare. We'll be trying to expand wraparound care and making sure that parents can access their 30 hours from nine months right up to primary school as well.
Nickie added,
"I know how important it is to get really good quality childcare in this country, and I'm really proud of the nurseries we do have in the Two Cities. I've used them and it's really important that women and men feel that they can go back to work and continue their careers and have really good quality childcare.
"And also if you are considering actually going into a career in childcare, again, it doesn't matter what your background, what your age, you may be in your second or even your third career. Please do consider childcare because there's so much flexibility around this work, whether you are a mum already or whether you've had your family or whether you've never had a family. Please do think about having childcare because this Government really wants to improve the childcare offer."
