MP Christopher Chope Visits Tops Day Nurseries to Discuss the Crucial Role of the Early Years Sector and Future Childcare Initiatives
Christopher Chope, MP, visited Tops Day Nurseries in Christchurch on Princess Avenue on Friday, 20th September, where he met with children and Founder & Chair, Cheryl Hadland, to discuss key topics, including the upcoming expansion of funded childcare, Education for Sustainable Citizenship, and the recent transition to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
During his visit, Christopher joined the children in planting seeds, an activity that not only engages the children in hands-on learning but also teaches them about sustainability and the importance of caring for the environment. This activity ties into Tops’ commitment to environmental education, encouraging children to develop eco-conscious habits from an early age by understanding how their actions can positively impact the planet.
He also had the opportunity to sample a variety of delicious dishes prepared by the Tops catering team, including vegetable quesadillas, quiche, cheese scones, and rainbow pasta, highlighting the healthy, sustainable food options they provide for the children.
Cheryl and Christopher discussed:
- How day nurseries and parents can help with financial and environmental sustainability as well as provide significant developmental support through supporting children to be nappy free earlier.
- There is now a national shortage of nursery staff which is reducing availability of nursery places and damaging the quality of education.
- Means testing for funding for early years places and funding could enable all children to attend for 30 hours instead of just those whose parents are working.
- The very heavy load of paying business rates.
- The lack of option to choose oat milk, fruit and vegetables instead of dairy milk in English nurseries, despite some children being dairy intolerant, and obesity being a major problem for increasing numbers of children.
- Waste costs of disposable nappies being 4% of the domestic rates bill for everyone plus £1000 per nursery p.a. Should have a washable nappy programme for all day nurseries in Dorset – funding available from the EU.
- The positive impact that Tops Day Nurseries (Queens Award) has on children and their families lives in Dorset, good and outstanding teaching, healthy, safe environments.
Speaking after the official visit, Cheryl Hadland, said; “We were delighted to welcome Christopher Chope MP, into Tops Day Nursery Christchurch. He gave us the opportunity to advocate for early years children, for example, funded children in day nurseries are not currently eligible for school meals even when their older brothers and sisters are, nor are SEND children able to access school level funding, even though the first 1000 days of a child’s life are the most important, and give the best chance of living a healthy and prosperous life in the future. Nursery staff, and parents, are now amongst the most poorly supported in the OECD, hence the dropping birth rate and increasing staff shortages. We look forward to hearing him advocate for the early years sector to his colleagues in parliament, emphasising the rights of children in their early years to a sustainable day nursery education – sustainable financially, socially and of course for the environment that our children will inherit”.
Christopher Chope, MP, commented; “Nothing is more important than ensuring that young children receive the best possible start in life. Tops Day Nurseries, with over thirty nurseries across the South and Southwest, are an exemplar for all that is best in early years education. The information I obtained on my visit enables me to make the case to Government for this sector to be treated on a par with school-based nurseries.
Tops Day Nurseries provides eco-sustainable Early Education and Care for children aged 3 months to school age. They have over 30-day nurseries across the South and Southwest. Tops also offer before, after-school and Hi5 holiday clubs for children up to the age of 11.