Hundreds of eligible families in North Yorkshire are due to benefit from additional government-funded childcare places to enable parents to take up paid employment or provide them with greater flexibility for work.
Rosedene Nurseries in Northallerton is among the expanding early years providers, having recently introduced a new outdoor educational tipi at its setting through its funding partnership with us.
The funding, which has been provided by the Government, is part of a national scheme and we are delivering the additional childcare places.
A total of 483 extra places are due to be provided throughout this year (2025) for eligible working parents and to support children’s early years education and development.
Currently there are 15 hours of funded childcare available per week, based on 38 weeks per year, for eligible working parents of children aged nine months to three years.
Children aged over three years of eligible working parents may currently be able to access up to 30 hours of funded childcare per week.
From September, this will be expanded to 30 hours a week for eligible families with children under three years old.
We were awarded more than £1.1million capital grant funding to support the expansion of early years places for eligible working families and wraparound places for primary school aged children.
The funding has been distributed to registered early years providers such as nurseries, preschools and childminders and to schools for expanding wraparound provision which is breakfast and after school clubs.
Executive member for education, learning and skills, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, said: “Our aim is to give all children in North Yorkshire the best start in life.
“Our early years providers are vital for the county, not only ensuring that our parents are able to work but that children get the benefit of an early years’ education which is crucial for their development.
“Similarly, the funding has allowed wraparound provision in North Yorkshire to be introduced or expanded supporting parents to work more flexibly.”
Providers in North Yorkshire are working proactively to meet the needs of more families.
The Rosedene tipi development will mean 15 additional places can now be offered, taking the capacity to more than 70 children with a learning space designed to inspire curiosity, creativity and wellbeing.
The opening event welcomed corporate director of children and young people’s service, Sir Stuart Carlton, along with officers from the council’s family information service, parents and members of the nursery team.
Reflecting on the education space which has been created at Rosedene Nursery, Sir Stuart Carlton, said: “The tipi adds to what is already a fantastic nursery.
“It gives them another room, another space to explore and opportunity to do different things with the children. It’s a change of environment that really supports their learning and development.”
The managing director of Rosedene Nurseries, Alice Haslam, said: “This new learning space reflects everything we believe in at Rosedene, learning through curiosity, connection with nature, and creating a calm, nurturing environment. It’s exciting to be able to share this space with our families and the wider community.”
Inside the tipi, each area has been designed to support different aspects of development including a cosy reading corner, a wellbeing space for yoga and mindfulness, areas for imaginative play and forest school-inspired activities, and displays that celebrate the children’s learning journeys.
Alice added: “Sessions in the tipi will run throughout the week as part of the nursery’s routine, giving every child a chance to explore the space.”
To qualify for the government-funded early years childcare, parents or carers need to be in work and earn a minimum of the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Living Wage or minimum wage. They also need to earn less than £100,000 a year.
This applies to both parents in a couple, so each parent must fit the criteria, and to single parents in a single parent household. Parents must meet the working family criteria to be eligible for the Government-funded childcare entitlement.