Marcus Fysh MP has met with local childcare provider Cheryl Hadland of Tops Day Nurseries at Tops Yeovil and pledged his commitment to support local childcare providers.
Marcus Fysh MP joined Cheryl Hadland, managing Director of Tops Day Nurseries during the official opening for Tops Yeovil on Friday 26th April 2019.
As one of the South’s leading eco-sustainable day nursery groups with 28 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.
Cheryl and Marcus discussed:
- The underfunding of early years provision and parents by the government, which has not increased again this year despite living wage and pensions both increasing this April.
- One of the results of the underfunding is not being able to pay for and retain the top quality nursery teachers that the children deserve, and which is the best investment this country can make, there is now a national shortage of nursery teachers.
- The local authorities not applying for relief on business rates for day nurseries despite notice to do this from the Department for Education and other local authorities now doing this. Wales and Scotland already refunding business rates, schools usually refunded rates.
- The land and water pollution being caused by one use plastic which is now micro plastics are in our food chain, in water, and causing infertility and disease in humans and injuring and killing birds, whales, turtles, dolphins and many more, the nurseries using bamboo toothbrushes.
- Air pollution, which is causing asthma and lung disease in small children, UNICEF top priority for 2019. Diesel vehicles, aerosols, need stopping.
- Fossil fuel burning and lots of cows producing climate change – impact on future of our children.
- Dairy milk provision for early years children being unnecessary, whereas fruit and vegetables would be more universally beneficial in terms of the children’s health, to reduce obesity, and to reduce discrimination against those in the population who are milk
- Waste costs of disposable nappies being 4% of the domestic rates bill for everyone plus £1000 per nursery p.a.
- The positive impact that Tops Day Nurseries will have on children and their families lives in Yeovil, good and outstanding teaching, healthy safe environments,
Speaking after the official opening event, Cheryl Hadland said:
“I am delighted Marcus Fysh, MP has pledged his support for childcare providers, families and children in Yeovil.
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 Yeovil 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,”
Marcus Fysh MP commented:
“It was great to meet Cheryl Hadland at Tops Day Nurseries in Yeovil 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 single-use plastics and reducing their impact on climate change.
“It is good news that 3 and 4-year-olds with working parents in Yeovil are able to receive 30-hours of Government 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 Yeovil is able to access a high quality early education. We must keep working on Yeovil’s effort to reduce single-use plastics and air pollution, and to process waste more efficiently, in order to provide a healthier future for our children and I look forward to staying in touch with the team at Tops.”
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
