Rishi visited Rooftops Nursery in Richmond to see how an expansion will boost childcare places for local families.
Rishi was welcomed by nursery owner, Hannah Hurley and taken on a tour of the site to view the development underway. He also spent time interacting with children during playtime and spoke with staff about the changes ahead.
The first phase of the works is nearing completion, including the construction of a new staff lodge. Once complete, this will free up space in the main building for a dedicated ‘tweenies’ room, enhancing provision for younger children.
The current expansion is scheduled to be fully completed by September and follows the extension of funded childcare hours, announced by Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister.
Eligible families can now access an additional 15 hours of government-funded early education for children aged nine months and older, increasing support to up to 30 hours per week from September.
This expansion at Rooftops Nursery will see capacity increased from 42 places to 55 places.
Rishi first visited Rooftops Nursery in 2015 to officially open The Barn, a purpose-built facility that has since become a central feature of the nursery’s provision.
Rishi praised the efforts of the Nursery for remaining open whilst the expansion is underway.
Speaking after the visit, Rishi said:
“It was wonderful to return to Rooftops and see how this exciting expansion is coming to life. When I opened The Barn back in 2015, I saw first-hand the dedication of the team here to create a nurturing and inspiring environment for local children. That same spirit is clearly driving this next chapter forward.”
“Access to high-quality childcare is not just about education, it’s about supporting families, enabling parents to work, and helping children get the best start in life.”
“Hannah and her team deserve huge credit for the energy and care they bring to their work every day.”
Hannah said:
“It was a pleasure to welcome Rishi Sunak back to Rooftops and share our exciting expansion plans with him. The children loved having him join in their play, and it meant a great deal to our team to show him first-hand the difference this funding will make for local families.”
