A new crèche has been opened at Heolddu Comprehensive School in Bargoed with Welsh Assembly Government funding.
As a result of the funding through the Assembly’s Flying Start programme the crèche, formerly situated within the Cartref Pensioners Hall in Bargoed, was able to set up a new base at Heolddu.
The purpose-built facility boasts large indoor and outdoor play and learning areas. Parents will be encouraged to stay initially and will be offered further parenting programmes and links to the leisure centre next door, as well as developing the community-focussed school agenda.
Councillor Phil Bevan, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet member for education and leisure, said: “This is a fantastic new facility and I’m sure many young children and their parents will benefit from this innovative new scheme.
“The unification of the Flying Start programme, Heolddu Comprehensive School and the leisure centre is set to encourage better links with the community and help bring parents back into the school with a different attitude towards lifelong learning.”
Future plans include working with the school to develop training places for vocational childcare courses.
The Flying Start area covers the Park Primary School catchment area and the number of children it will serve per year is approximately 40 children aged between two and three.