New Neighbourhood Nursery for Wigton

Cumbria Early Years Development & Childcare Partnership are delighted to provide £54k for new Neighbourhood Nursery places recently established in Wigton. Jumping Jacks Childcare Centre have used the funding for their Baby Unit which is now open and offers care for up to 24 babies. The funding is provided through the Partnership to assist with running costs in the first three critical years as the nursery becomes established. 

Nurseries and childcare places which are established using Neighbourhood Nursery funding are situated in selected areas of Cumbria which qualify for targeted assistance. They will provide high quality, affordable childcare to local parents, and ensure that their opening hours and policies are helpful to parents who want to work and take up training opportunities. 

County Councillor Joan Stocker, Cabinet Spokesperson for Education says 

"I am delighted that this money has now been secured so important initiatives like this can get under way in Cumbria. We have a strong commitment to the services that we provide to the under fives and access to good nursery education and childcare are essential to contribute to the well-being of families and educational progress. Neighbourhood Nurseries are one of the Government's major childcare initiatives which is managed in Cumbria by the Early Years Development & Childcare Partnership. Neighbourhood Nurseries will create over 600 new full day-care places throughout the County over the next three years. I wish Jumping Jacks Baby Unit every success." 

Jane Crawford, Jumping Jacks Baby Unit Manger is delighted to have secured this funding. She says 

"The neighbourhood nurseries initiative has enabled us to offer places within our baby unit which can take up to 24 babies in two groups from 0 to 2 years. This compliments the age range the centre can accommodate. Before we could only take children from 2 years, which limited parent's choice, as we couldn't take their babies. There was a big demand and shortage for under two's childcare in our area, which covers a 10-mile radius. The baby unit now caters for that demand. We can now care for children from 0 to 14 years of age. This gives the parent all round childcare on one site. We also have holiday clubs and take and pick up children from school - this gives the parent only one collection and drop off for their children, enabling them to make the most of their time. The baby places are causing a lot of interest and are being taken up quickly. The grant, which we receive over a three year period, has enabled us to refurbish, equip and staff the unit to a high standard. Parents and children using the centre expect a high standard in their environment and care, the grant has helped us to achieve this and will over the next couple of years. Andy my husband carries out all the refurbishment work, along with my dad Ian, they also keep the centre in good condition and looking good all the time, so we are real family orientated business. Andy designed the unit to be light, spacious and a homely atmosphere; it has lots of pine wood, pastel patterns on the wall and plenty of windows to let natural light in. The unit has turned out excellently, and the centre has just been awarded the Kids Club Network Aiming High Accreditation Award, for a high standard and quality childcare centre. We are now aiming for the National Day Nurseries Accreditation Quality Counts, which we are hoping to complete in around 12 months to add to our growing list of achievements."