Harris Federation and Urban Exposure Philanthropy to open free nurseries in disadvantaged areas
Building on its track record in social mobility, the Harris Federation has raised private sponsorship to be able to open the first in a series of completely free nurseries in disadvantaged areas of London.
With charitable backing from Urban Exposure Philanthropy, the first of the nurseries will open this September in Peckham, where the Harris Federation already operates two primary schools and a secondary school.
By providing 55 hours of free childcare per week for children aged between two and four, almost double the maximum 30 hours currently paid for by the government for three and four-year-olds, the scheme will remove the cost of childcare as a barrier to parents looking to work or study. The aim is to enable parents, particularly mothers and single parents, to study or work secure in the knowledge their child is receiving an exceptional standard of care and education.
Three of the 32 places at Harris Nursery Hub Peckham will be reserved for the children of Harris Federation primary teachers in Peckham. The other places will be allocated to children where all parents in the household are working, seeking work, or studying full time, with those who live closest getting priority.
Sir Dan Moynihan, Senior Executive Principal & CEO of the Harris Federation said:
“It is an outrageous failure of successive governments that the cost and availability of childcare is a barrier to parents working. This affects many families but hits mothers, young parents and single parents the hardest. Amongst wealthy parts of the EU, London has the largest employment gap between men and women of childbearing age, with women far less likely to be in work.
“By providing free early years education for children in the poorest families, we are not only hoping to help parents get back on their feet but also aiming to eliminate the educational disadvantage suffered by children from the poorest families before they start school.
“We hope this free nursery will be the first of many and are hugely grateful to Urban Exposure Philanthropy for its support and backing.”
Randeesh Sandhu, CEO of Urban Exposure said:
“Investing in the education, health and wellbeing of disadvantaged children is of paramount importance. The nursery will be completely free and open year-round with amenities including three meals a day. In addition to meeting the educational and developmental needs of children, it will also address issues such as the affordability of childcare, hunger and food deprivation.
“The fully funded nursery facility gives parents the opportunity to enrol in full time study or employment which would subsequently benefit their family situation. We are proud to be partnering with the Harris Federation for Urban Exposure Philanthropy’s first project and we look forward to funding further nurseries and continuing to provide support to children’s educational projects in the coming years.”