Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited RAFA Kidz Leeming as the nursery celebrated its one-year anniversary.
Image ©Licensed to Parsons Media. 27/01/2023. Sedgefield, United Kingdom. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak North Yorkshire Visit. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visiting the RAFA Kidz Nursery at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire. Picture by Andrew Parsons CCHQ / Parsons Media
RAFA Kidz Leeming provides childcare for children aged 0 to 11 years at the RAF station near Northallerton, including wraparound care, specialist services for children with special educational needs and a dedicated sensory room.
During the visit, the MP for Richmond (Yorks) and Prime Minister met children of military personnel, nursery keyworkers and representatives of the RAF Association, the RAF charity that operates the nursery. As well as taking part in a play activity, he also visited the Kidz Club facilities where the nursery’s wraparound childcare is delivered. Last year the Government announced that 20,000 service children would be eligible for up to 20 hours of free childcare – worth up to £3,000 per child.
Speaking at the event, Nick Bunting, Secretary General for the Royal Air Forces Association, said:
“We know that access to childcare is a key concern for serving RAF families and we have been responding to this need over the past few years with the introduction of our RAFA Kidz nurseries.
“We were delighted to introduce RAFA Kidz to RAF Leeming in January last year. It was a real privilege to welcome the Prime Minister to the nursery and have the opportunity to showcase the huge difference it is already having on serving families one year on.”
Mr Sunak said;
“RAF personnel and their families contribute a huge amount in the service of their country, and deal with some unique challenges in doing so. I am delighted to have been able to visit RAFA Kidz Leeming as they celebrate their one-year anniversary and see first-hand the positive impact the nursery has on the children and the serving community here at RAF Leeming.”
Part of the RAF Association, RAFA Kidz has five nurseries located across the country at RAF Leeming, Brize Norton, Odiham, Cranwell and Digby. RAFA Kidz was designed to meet the needs of military and civilian families in the community around RAF stations, providing affordable and quality childcare.
To find out more about RAFA Kidz visit www.rafakidz.org.uk
