Meithrinfa Glan Hafren Nursery, located on the Trowbridge campus of further education college Coleg Glan Hafren in Cardiff, officially opened last month. The 500,000 purpose-built nursery cares for 50 children whose parents are college staff, students and members of the local community.
Hornsey YMCA has opened a 12-place nursery in north London to enable teenage mothers to return to school or college while their children are looked after. Family Matters Nursery is run in partnership with Holy Trinity Church in Stroud Green.
Children's minister Beverley Hughes opened the West London Early Years Centre of Vocational Excellence at Stanmore College on 9 November. The centre, funded by the Learning and Skills Council, has been designated a specialist area of vocational provision and will promote lifelong learning and best practice.
The Ark Sure Start Children's Centre in Lowestoft, Suffolk, held its opening ceremony on 3 December. It includes a nursery, creche, cafe, snug sensory area and large garden, as well as an area for clinics and community groups.
A new 1.1m nursery at Doxford International Business Park in Sunderland is being built by Just Learning, the UK's third largest nursery chain. The nursery will offer 112 childcare places to employees working for companies including Barclays, T-Mobile and Nike. It is due to open in spring 2006.
Families in north Manchester celebrated the opening of a new Sure Start centre on 24 November. Moston Family and Community Centre has undergone a 1m refurbishment and now includes a neighbourhood nursery and a before- and after-school club for primary school children. Sure Start activities include baby massage, groups for new mothers, and a stop-smoking clinic.
The Fisherfield Farm Nursery Group, which runs five nurseries in Lancashire, has opened a before- and after-school club at Caldershaw Primary School in Rochfield. The club will provide a full range of indoor and outdoor activities and place an emphasis on active play.
