Stephen Morgan has met with local childcare provider Cheryl Hadland of Tops Day Nurseries at the nursery in Bruce Road, Southsea and pledged his commitment to support local childcare providers, parents and children.

Stephen Morgan, MP joined Cheryl Hadland, managing director of Tops Day Nurseries for a tour of the re-opened Tops Day Nursery, Southsea on Friday 22 of April 2022.

Stephen revealed the plaque commemorating the re-opening, listened to local author Neal Layton reading his book “A Planet full of Plastic” and took part in a sustainability song for children composed by BoogieMites.

Cheryl and Stephen discussed:

• Tops Day Nurseries Queens Award for Enterprise (Sustainable Development).
• The underfunding of early years provision and parents by the government, which was about half what it should be (Governments own figures) and has failed to keep up this year again despite living wage, national insurance, health insurance, inflation and utilities all increasing again this April.
• One of the results of the underfunding is not being able to pay for and retain the top-quality nursery teachers that the children deserve, and which is the best investment this country can make, there is now a national shortage of nursery teachers.
• The importance of apprenticeships from starting to degree level for early years staff
• Means testing for funding for early years places and funding to enable all children to attend for 30 hours.
• The local authorities not applying for relief on business rates for day nurseries despite notice to do this from the Department for Education and other local authorities now doing this.  Wales and Scotland already refunding business rates, schools have rates refunded.
• Immigration restrictions on potential employees of nurseries in England.The land and water pollution being caused by one use plastic which is now micro plastics are in our food chain, in water, and causing infertility and disease in humans and injuring and killing birds, whales, turtles, dolphins and many more, the nurseries using bamboo toothbrushes and washable nappies.
• Air pollution, which is causing asthma and lung disease in small children.  The nursery EV and charging point.
• Dairy milk provision for early years children being unsustainable, whereas fruit and vegetables would be more universally beneficial in terms of the children’s health, would reduce obesity and discrimination against those in the population who are milk intolerant
• Waste costs of disposable nappies being 4% of the domestic rates bill for everyone plus £1000 per nursery p.a.
• The positive impact that Tops Day Nurseries has on children and their families lives in Southsea, good and outstanding teaching, healthy safe environments, 

Speaking after the official opening event, Cheryl Hadland said:

“I am delighted Stephen Morgan, MP has been to re-open and tour our Tops Day Nursery in Bruce Road, Southsea, and was also able to celebrate our Queens Award for sustainability with us.  

Collaboration is an important part of sustainability so it was lovely to have local writer Neal Leyton read his Planet full of Plastic,  local music makers Boogie Mites teach us their new sustainability song, and our LGBTQ+ leader Simon King and manager at Tops QA come to celebrate with us as well.

Sadly, funding for 3-4 year olds from the government has not kept up with costs at Tops Southsea, and this reduces our ability to pay our staff what they deserve and burdens parents with having to pay more towards their children’s education and care than any other parents in Europe.  We also want a healthier environment and future for our children and grandchildren, with fewer diesel and petrol fumes, more attention to reducing waste and recycling and to reducing carbon footprints. Therefore, I look forward to working with our local MP to campaign for a more sustainable future for childcare providers, parents, and children.”

Stephen Morgan commented:

“It was great to meet Cheryl Hadland and team today at Tops Day Nurseries in Southsea and hear about the great work Tops does to give children the best possible start in life. I was particularly impressed at their commitment to reducing one-use plastic and reducing their impact on climate change, and of course huge congratulations on their Queens Award.

“With the cost of living crisis, many nurseries and childcare providers are facing real financial challenges and parents with small children feeling the pinch in their pockets. That’s why I will continue to speak up for local families and the early years sector in Parliament to ensure every child in Portsmouth is able to access a high-quality early education.

As I saw from my visit, officially opening the nursery on Bruce Road today, the team are passionate about providing a service which will help secure a healthier future for our city’s children”.