Epsom MP cuts ribbon of new nursery

Children at a new nursery welcomed MP Chris Grayling who cut the ribbon to officially open the new provision at an Epsom school.

The Vale Primary School now offers a curriculum for two to 11-year-olds and its nursery already has 23 children on the roll with more joining in the spring. 

Mr Grayling, MP for Epsom and Ewell, joined Julian Drinkall, CEO at GLF Schools, in cutting the ribbon to officially open the nursery on Wednesday 7 February.

“I was delighted to be invited to attend the official opening,” said Mr Grayling. “The additional nursery places will support the government’s expansion of childcare support to working parents and offer the local community free, funded 15 and 30 hour early years places for two, three and four-year olds. It is clearly going to be a really happy nursery,” he added.

The school is a member of the GLF Schools Multi-Academy Trust which has a strategy to promote school readiness by ensuring as many as possible of its primary schools can cater for children aged from two to 11 with a school-run nursery on site.

Sarah Leyland and Cathy Browne, co-heads at The Vale, said they were both very proud of the hard work and community collaboration which has seen the creation of ‘such a positive environment for our young children.’

To add to the celebration aspect of the event, a specially made cake depicting the school logo and an array of cupcakes were made by a former parent of the school.

“I am delighted for our community and the parents and carers with us today that GLF can offer this new nursery provision. GLF’s nursery strategy emphasises the importance of ensuring our youngest children have access to high quality early education and being ready to start school,” said Mr Drinkall.

“It was clear today that our new nursery at The Vale Primary School is quickly becoming an integral part of the local community and provides local families with the opportunity to access a new and exciting two-11 curriculum.”

The nursery will be holding an open morning on Wednesday, March 6 and Friday, March 8 and visits can be booked at the school on 01372 273639 or via info@thevaleprimary.org 

The Vale Primary School website also has details on how nursery funding is changing and how parents can apply for funded places for 15 hours childcare for two-year-olds. More details on www.thevaleprimary.org