This story is sponsored by Kids Planet Day Nurseries.

Nurseries in Harrogate and Knaresborough are offering up to 30 hours’ funded childcare, as well as tax-free childcare that can save parents up to £4,000 a year.

Kids Planet Day Nurseries is an award-winning national provider with over 170 nurseries across the North and Midlands, including settings in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Wetherby, Boston Spa, Horsforth and Leeds city centre. 

In line with government policy, it offers 15 hours’ funded childcare for three- and four-year-olds, but it also extends the offer to some two-year-olds. 

Working parents of three- and four-year-olds may be able to get as many as 30 hours’ funded childcare, depending on eligibility criteria such as salary, age of children and location. 

What’s more, parents in work with children aged 0-11 can use their tax-free childcare allowance with Kids Planet, saving them up to £2,000 a year. If their child has a disability, the age limit may be raised to 17, and the savings can reach £4,000 a year. 

All Kids Planet nurseries provide nappies, baby formula and baby wipes at no extra charge.

CEO Clare Roberts, who set up Kids Planet in 2008, said: 

“Funded and tax-free childcare is available through many providers, but at Kids Planet we provide so much more. For example, our nurseries are all-inclusive, so we include all nappies, baby formula and baby wipes in our fees, saving parents time, stress, and money.”

Kids Planet places great emphasis on the quality of its staff, and in 2018 it launched its own Kids Planet Training Academy, which offers traineeships, apprenticeships and other higher-level courses. 

Clare said: 

“We want all our nursery employees to be experts at what they do, and the Academy ensures that they are as qualified as they can be, with skill levels that allow them to progress and enjoy long and successful careers in early years.

“That’s good for them, and great for the children they look after, as happy colleagues mean happy children.”

If you’d like to see for yourself why Kids Planet Day Nurseries is trusted to look after more than 20,000 children across the UK, you can take a look around one of our nurseries. Just book an appointment online.

For more information about how you can save money through funded and tax-free childcare at Kids Planet, visit the Funded Childcare page on the Kids Planet website.

This article is sponsored by Children’s Corner Childcare. 

An innovative new nursery – complete with a refurbished loft space and a breakfast bar for parents – is opening its doors near RHS Harlow Carr Harrogate.

Launching in April, Children’s Corner will be based at Central House, on Otley Road, making it an ideal location for parents who work at the business park.

It will also serve commuters to and from Harrogate, as well as those living in nearby villages, including Beckwithshaw and Pannal.

Lesley Anne Dawson, CEO and owner of Children’s Corner Childcare, said:

“This purpose-built nursery is the first of its kind in the area. Bright and spacious, the modern open-plan space will allow plenty of opportunities for children to explore.

“Beyond the welcoming reception area are two large rooms divided into nursery and pre-school, with staff and activities tailored to different ages and abilities.

“We also have a beautifully-refurbished loft space that local baby and toddler classes will be using throughout the week. The nursery also benefits from a wonderful outdoor space which will be used for outdoor learning and play.”

The family-run nursery, set to open on April 4, will be able to welcome up to 50 children from aged six weeks to five, from 7.30am to 6pm all-year-round. It will also offer 15 and 30-hour funded places.

Its many stand-out approaches to childcare include a sustainable, eco-friendly ethos, a focus on outdoor learning and flexibility for parents in a modern working environment.

Lesley added:

“We have commissioned sustainable wooden play equipment for both in and outdoors, and lean towards open-ended natural resources to encourage children to create their own play. There is also a covered area to allow for all-weather play and outdoor learning.

“Spending lots of time outdoors has proven benefits to children’s health and development. Our garden is surrounded by mature trees and we will be encouraging wildlife – the animals and insects we share our home with provide endless opportunities for learning.”

To make drop-off run as smoothly as possible, the nursery’s welcoming reception area is aimed at helping to set families up for a happy day ahead.

Lesley said:

“On arrival, children will go in for breakfast and parents can stay for a coffee while they catch up on emails at the breakfast bar.

“There are ample parking spaces right outside. The Children’s Corner operations manager will also be based onsite, so parents always have a point of contact.

“We are keen to be an integral part of the local community and we are offering our lovely loft space to local baby and toddler groups, who will be offering classes throughout the week. We plan to work with local schools to offer wraparound care.”

Lesley said an emphasis was also placed on mealtimes, which is seen as a chance to sit down with friends, develop communication skills and learn healthy eating habits.

She added:

“Our seasonal dishes are always freshly prepared and we explore different aromas, tastes and textures every day, helping young children understand what good food is, how it grows and that it tastes delicious.”

During the pandemic, the nursery, which has six other branches in Leeds, created a unique ‘Flexi-Day Pass’ to support parents who were juggling childcare and working from home.

Lesley said:

“We wanted to offer parents reassurance during a difficult time of uncertainty.

“The pandemic has changed the way we work. Now that many companies are returning to the office or adopting the hybrid approach, we aim to continue to offer flexible childcare with just 24 hours notice.

“Parents book a minimum of three days per month, and can choose those days flexibly. As long as we have availability we will do our utmost to provide the days requested.”

The nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and practices ‘in the moment planning’, which means that children are able to follow their interests.

Matthew Dawson, director of Chidren’s Corner Childcare, said:

“We cannot wait to open our first Children’s Corner nursery in Harrogate.

“Our goal is to offer the highest quality childcare to our families whilst also meeting the flexibility requirements parents need in the modern working environment.

“We want Children’s Corner Harrogate to feel like an extension of your own family and we will be running social events for parents who might not have been able to meet other parents because of the pandemic.

“We are a family-owned and operated business and love having that personal connection to all of the families in our care.”

The nursery is holding a series of open days in March, starting with an exclusive Central House show-round on Friday, March 11, where tenants can drop in for lunch between 12 and 2pm and meet the nursery manager.

It will be followed by two events for parents, who can enjoy a tour of the setting, on Saturday, March 12 and 19, between 10am and 2pm.

• To register for the event, click here, and the nursery team will get in touch to book your slot. There will be activities to entertain the children.
• As well as the opportunity to meet the staff and ask any questions, if you enrol during your visit, you will save 50 per cent off your first month’s fees. You must sign up on the day and your child must start by September 2022.
• The nursery is currently recruiting talented team members to help launch in Harrogate, including deputy manager, qualified early years practitioners, a nursery cook and nursery apprentices. Please email a CV to recruitment@childrenscornerchildcare.co.uk

This article is sponsored by Ashville College. 

With the name of ‘College’, sometimes parents assume that Ashville College only caters for teenage pupils, however, there is also a well-established Prep School and Nursery Class on the same 64-acre campus.

Acorns Nursery Class is located in a purpose-built building which provides a happy, secure and stimulating setting for the beginning of a child’s learning journey. It is packed full of facilities appropriate to support younger children with their educational development in a fun environment.

And whilst it is a stand-alone facility, being part of the ‘Ashville family’, pupils also benefit from being able to make use of the extensive facilities the wider College has to offer, including a state-of-the-art Sports Centre and superb outdoor area for games. Additionally, this link allows them to explore a wider range of subjects at a much earlier age and to discover what areas they are particularly interested in and where their individual talents lie.

Acorns Nursery Class is open to children after they turn three, until they start school in Reception. And for many it is the first step in a child’s learning journey at Ashville.

In comparison with other mainstream nurseries, the ‘young Acorns’ are taught by fully-qualified teachers, rather than nursery practitioners, and the Acorns teachers have a wealth of experience specifically working with younger children. Acorns Nursery Class also introduces them to a school routine; they wear a uniform, learn through play in a classroom setting and attend assemblies as part of the wider Ashville Prep School community. This helps develop their confidence and independence, and it removes the potential ‘shock’ of starting school the following year.

Smaller class sizes enable the children to have more teacher interaction and greater support to grow and develop, and the boys and girls are very much a name and never a number.

Acorns Nursery Class follows the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) curriculum that sets out key learning through interactive activities and play, for children to help with a smooth entry into Reception the following year. It covers a variety of themes including a core introduction to literacy and numeracy skills.

Simon Asker, Head of Ashville Prep School explains: “At the heart of the Ashville College ethos, pupils are supported to be ‘the best versions of themselves’, which is also true in Acorns. Teachers cater for individual interests and strengths to make the Early Years curriculum more relevant, accessible and enjoyable to each child.

“We understand that it can be a daunting decision to take the step and choose a Pre-School or Nursery Class for your child, especially if they have not attended a childcare setting before.

“However, the experienced teachers and Admissions team at Ashville are here to support parents with this milestone, and we welcome enquiries from parents who are interested to find out more about Acorns Nursery Class.”

For more information about Acorns Nursery Class at Ashville College, please visit www.ashville.co.uk/acorns or call 01423 566358.