Chloe Smith working hard to bring more childcare to Norwich parents

Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North, is acting to bring more childcare to Norwich parents.

 

Tuesday, Thursday: Legislating in London…

She will start work on the Childcare Bill Committee today, sitting on Tuesday and Thursday.  Chloe’s role on the Bill Committee means she will be directly involved in shaping the new legislation as it makes its way through Parliament.

She recently spoke in the Commons second reading of the Childcare Bill, calling on businesses to take the opportunity to provide more places in Norwich.  Her speech highlighted the shortage of childcare places currently in north Norwich, and outlined the opportunity represented by this Bill in doubling the number of hours to be paid for by the taxpayer, for working parents of three and four year olds.

 

…and leading in Norwich on Friday

Chloe is leading local action on this issue by bringing together the county council with its statutory responsibilities, Norwich City College as a workforce training provider, the Chamber of Commerce, major employers, existing providers and the National Day Nurseries Association, to ask:  how can we encourage greater supply in Norwich?

Chloe calls on businesses to consider how they can come forward with more places in Norwich.  She welcomes the higher funding settlement announced in the Autumn Statement and calls this “a major opportunity” for existing or new childcare businesses in Norwich or who could locate to Norwich. 

She has recently addressed the Norfolk Institute of Directors and worked with the Federation of Small Businesses to highlight the issue for families and businesses.

Chloe’s group has met once in September and is coming back together to look at action in five key areas in 2016, before the increased number of free hours is in force in 2017.

 

Chloe says: 

“I’ve spoken to scores of Norwich parents and childcare settings who welcome this Bill, promised and delivered by the Conservatives as an election manifesto pledge.  Childcare is the issue for most working parents. 

“Having the right childcare in place will mean more parents can have a genuine choice, security, and peace of mind when it comes to being able to support their family.  This Bill helps those parents, by doubling the free hours of childcare they can use, from 15 to 30 per week.  It paves the way for parents to go into work, for local businesses to grow and for children to benefit from good quality education.  Childcare is a foundation in the lives of the parents and their child, and it lets people build their dreams.

“I’m proud to help bring that about in Parliament.  I’m leading local action too so that we have the necessary plans in place for Norwich, which already has high demand and short supply.  This is a major opportunity for parents and for Norwich, and we have to grasp it.”