Luke Pollard MP joined Cheryl Hadland, managing Director of Tops Day Nurseries during the official openings for Tops Stonehouse on Wolsdon Street and Tops Devonport, based at Greenark Children’s centre on Friday 3rd May 2019.
Throughout the open day, colleagues, parents and Luke Pollard MP signed a specially made pledge board to agree to banish single-use plastic and reducing waste to landfill. As one of the South’s leading eco-sustainable day nursery groups with 29 settings across the South Coast, Tops are leading the way in sustainable childcare. One of the group’s settings were even the first nursery setting in the UK to achieve the Surfers Against Sewage: Plastic Free Schools status.
Speaking after the official opening event, Cheryl Hadland said:
“I am delighted Luke Pollard, MP has pledged his support for childcare providers, families and children in Plymouth
At Tops Day Nurseries we provide top-quality early education to our children, and we’re pleased that the Government’s 30-hours childcare policy means that more 3 and 4 year- -olds can benefit from our services.
However, funding in Plymouth is less than the cost of delivery, and this reduces our ability to pay our staff what they deserve and burdens parents with having to pay more towards their children’s education and care than any other parent in Europe. We also want a healthier environment and future for our children and grandchildren. This is why I look forward to working with our local MP to campaign for a more sustainable future for childcare providers, parents and children,”
Luke Pollard commented:
“It was great to meet Cheryl Hadland at Tops Day Nurseries in Plymouth – Stonehouse and Devonport and hear about the great work Tops does to give children the best start in life possible. I was particularly impressed at their commitment to reducing one-use plastic and reducing their impact on climate change.
“It is great news that some 3 and 4-year-old children in Plymouth are now able to receive 30-hours funded childcare, however, I understand that many settings and parents of small children are facing financial challenges, and I will be making representations in Parliament and to the Government to help ensure that every child in Plymouth is able to access a high-quality early education and also that we work to improve Plymouth’s effort to reduce one use plastic and air pollution, and to process waste more efficiently, in order to provide a healthier future for our children.”
Tops Day Nurseries offers care for children from 3 months – school age, as well as having an afterschool and holiday club for children up to the age of 8. Parents will soon be able to benefit from extended opening hours of 6am-8pm*, 52 weeks a year including Bank Holidays. This is as well as the number of extra-curricular activities that are due to be introduced to extend the experiences children have whilst at nursery. For more information, please call 0801 699650 or email enquiries@topsdaynurseries.co.uk
