Tobias Ellwood, MP for Bournemouth East, visited Tops day nursery in Muscliff, on 1 December to see the new facilities for babies and two years olds in preparation for the funding to be made available for younger children from April and September 2024. The visit included the coats and book bank for children in deprivation in the area.

Founder of Tops Day Nurseries, Cheryl Hadland, discussed a number of topics with the MP:

FUNDING

• The 2.25% pa average increase in funding over the last three years for early years provision by the government and local authority, which means the rate paid for 2-4 year olds is now about half what it needs to be to keep day nurseries open and staff fairly paid.
• Inadequate portal (Synergy) for funding applications and payments resulting in long delays in payment and significant damage to cash flow.
• Lack of funding for SEND children. There is no funding at all for diagnosis unlike schools.
• 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.

STAFF SHORTAGE

• The national shortage of nursery staff is reducing availability of nursery places, and damaging the quality of education.

BUSINESS RATES

• The very heavy load of paying business rates.

POLLUTION

• The land and water pollution being caused by water companies allowing sewage into the environment, causing sickness, and stopping children’s access to the seas, and the one use plastic and micro plastics now in our food chain causing infertility and disease in humans and injuring and killing birds, whales, turtles, dolphins.
• Air pollution, which is causing asthma and lung disease in small children.
• Waste costs of disposable nappies being 4% of the domestic rates bill for everyone plus £1,000 per nursery pa. Should have a washable nappy programme for all day nurseries in Bournemouth – funding available from the EU.

DIET

• 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.

Cheryl Hadland and Tobias Ellwood also discussed the positive impact that Tops Day Nurseries has on children and their families’ lives in Bournemouth including good and outstanding teaching; healthy and safe environments.

During the visit Tobias Ellwood and Cheryl Hadland created artwork with the children and sampled food from Tops’ no added sugar menus, prepared by the Tops Catering team.

Speaking after the official opening of the new facilities, Cheryl Hadland said: “Children do not have a vote, and need us all to represent them and their needs for the future, so it was great to be able to share our concerns for them with Tobias.”

Tobias Ellwood said: “It was a pleasure to meet the children and staff of Tops Muscliff. Education of the youngest children in our community is of concern to us all, as they are the future, whether they become lawyers, farmers, NHS staff, politicians, or occupations still unknown. Giving children the best start possible is one of the best investments we can make in our community and country.”