Three Newham primary schools given £1.3m nursery places grant

Three primary schools are set to receive almost £1.3 million between them to create new childcare places, the early years minister has announced.

Caroline Dinenage pledged the funding to Cleves, Selwyn and Central Park primary schools, with more than 150 new nursery places set to be created.

The money comes as part of a £50m package set to be shared out across nurseries, pre-schools and playgroups around the country, which will deliver 9,000 additional childcare places.

It is part of the government’s pledge to give working families 30 hours free childcare for youngsters of pre-school age from September.

Newham parents have been benefiting from this since September last year after the borough was selected as an early implementer area.

Ms Dinenage said: “This investment will deliver more childcare places to working parents, giving them the benefits of 30 hours free childcare whilst giving their children high-quality early education that sets them up for life. This is backed by our record £6 billion investment in childcare per year by 2020.”