Sheffield nursery praised for helping both children and parents

Brittany Jackson and daughter Aleiyah

A nursery in South Yorkshire has been praised for its positive impact on the development of children in its care, and the wellbeing of their parents.

Meadows Nursery, in Shirecliffe, Sheffield, is jointly funded by the charity Save The Children and Sheffield Hallam University.

Children are given a free place from the age of two, a term longer than current government funding allows.

Parent Rhianna Hayes said her daughter Kaia has come on "leaps and bounds".

Ms Hayes, who lives in Longley, in Sheffield, told BBC Look North her daughter's confidence has also "grown massively" since starting at the nursery six months ago.

"She interacts a lot more now with other children," she said.

The nursery has been helping both parents and children

"I used to take her to play centres before she came to nursey, and she would kind of stay to herself and wouldn't really go near other children.

"But since coming here, she is just into everything and wants to know everybody's business - so, yes, she is a very happy girl."

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The nursery, which looks after 42 children, also gives many parents a chance to recalibrate.

Mum Brittany Jackson said having her daughter in the nursery has meant she has had time to pursue a new career.

"I was homeless from the age of 16-21, so I'm really passionate about trying to change homelessness. Having her in nursery has really given me the opportunity to start working in this sector and I've now excelled in my career," she said.

Leanna Clark, senior innovation and projects officer for Save The Children, said the nursery is a "physical and psychological safe space for not just children, but parents too".

The organisation said the nursery was started due to the amount of deprivation in the area and because there had been no early years provision in the area for 10 years.

It said the 2021 census had given a "detailed picture of poverty" with 68.5% of households in Burngreave and Grimesthorpe classified as deprived in at least one area.

It also showed almost a third of people over 16 in Firth Park had no qualifications and about a half of people aged 16 and over in Shirecliffe and Parkwood Springs were deemed economically inactive.

"Statistics like these have led us to work in the wards of Burngreave, Shiregreen & Brightside and Firth Park in the north of Sheffield.

"This is the area of focus for the Early Learning Community," it said.