Nick Timothy, the MP for West Suffolk, joined children in fun activities when he visited Castle Fields Pre-School in Haverhill on 23 April 2025.
Mr Timothy got his hands dirty when he participated in a garden activity in which the children learn about digging soil, planting seeds and growing vegetables at the pre-school’s allotment.
And he had fun taking part in a food preparation activity in the pre-school’s kitchen.
Mr Timothy also welcomed the chance for a discussion with the preschool’s manager Charis Goulding and deputy manager Amy Weekes about the various challenges facing nurseries, from the Government’s National Insurance Rise – the Jobs Tax – to the inadequacy of income for “funded” places and regulations preventing charges for services like cooked lunches.
Because of huge and growing costs, and the time required to deal with burgeoning regulation, staff teams across the sector — who are passionate about looking after and educating children — are overstretched, and many nursery businesses could go bust.
Commenting, Mr Timothy said: “I had an excellent time at Castle Fields Pre-School in Haverhill.
“It was wonderful to meet the team, and to see all the kids’ activities, from cooking preparation to learning about planting vegetables in the allotment.
“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.”
