MP Nick Timothy reiterates his support for childcare settings during visit to Castle Fields Pre-School in Haverhill

Nick Timothy participated in a gardening activity and food preparation with children but also welcomed the chance for a discussion with the pre-school’s manager Charis Goulding and deputy manager Amy Weekes about the various challenges facing nurseries.

These included from the Government’s National Insurance rise for employers to the inadequacy of income for funded places and regulations preventing charges for services like cooked lunches.

Because of huge and growing costs, said the MP, and the time required to deal with burgeoning regulation, staff teams across the sector - who are passionate about helping and educating children - are overstretched, and many nurseries could go bust.

Mr Timothy said: “I had an excellent time at Castle Fields Pre-School. It was important to hear more about the pressures facing nurseries and I am fighting to raise this issue in Parliament.

“I want to say a huge thanks to Charis Goulding and the rest of the team for showing me around.”