The number of two-year-old children entitled to a free place at nursery will double next year and Twerton families are set to benefit.
Liberal Democrats announced last month that 40% of children would be eligible for 15 hours per week of free nursery care from September 2014 – doubling the 20% eligible this year. In B&NES this means that up to 600 places will be available, targeted at children from lower income families.
Now, B&NES Cabinet is allocating capital funding to the areas where the places are most needed. Writhlington is one of three areas where money will be spent to build up places in in nursery schools, children’s centres, day cares, play groups, pre-schools or with accredited child minders.
Twerton Councillor Gerry Curran (Liberal Democrat) commented: “Children really benefit from early years education in terms of their educational, emotional, physical and social development.
“This increase in the number of free places for two year olds will help set our young children on the right track to doing well at primary school and in life. Free places could also help parents who would like to go back to work or education.
“It’s great that Lib Dem run B&NES Council continues to be ahead of the game, by ensuring that the capacity will be in place for September 2014.”
Bath MP, Don Foster, said: “This extra support for low income families is a real Liberal Democrat achievement in our pursuit of a fairer society.”