Nursery World - PVI providers get 642m to improve

Private and voluntary sector nurseries are set to benefit from more than half a billion pounds of Government funding to help them develop their outdoor play areas and indoor space, and improve facilities for disabled children.

The money includes capital funding so PVI providers can adapt their buildings to extend the free nursery education offer to 15 hours and be more flexible.

This might mean, for example, building alterations to kitchen facilities so that a pre-school could provide childcare over lunchtimes.

Children's minister Beverley Hughes outlined plans for £642m to improve the quality of the nursery environment.

She said, 'The basic philosophy of the EYFS - that children develop through play-based learning - puts a premium on the quality of the environment and facilities. Children need the physical space within which to play freely, enough toys and resources to stimulate their creativity, and the facilities to provide them with nutritious food and drink. Equally, we need to make sure that all families take up the free early education offer and can do so flexibly. This means providing a range of services that match up to the demands of our 24/7 society and that can be readily used by all children, including those with severe and complex disabilities.'

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