North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson welcomed Minister for Children and Families Will Quince to Swindon to showcase the excellent provision available to children in the town.

They started with a visit to Playsteps Nursery, where they met with nursery owner and borough councillor Jo Morris as well as some of the children and joined them for crafts and storytime.

They thanked staff for their hard work throughout the pandemic and discussed what can be done to improve support to nurseries while balancing the need to make childcare as available and affordable to as many parents as possible.

The MPs went to an after-school sport club at Oakhurst Primary School run by Mark Draycott and his Draycott Sports Camp, which encourages children to be more active and provides sports classes through the holidays.

They heard about the holiday activities and food programme, which sees places at school holiday clubs provided to children eligible for free school meals.

Justin Tomlinson said: “It was great to visit Playsteps and Draycott Sports Camp and see first-hand the fantastic early years and childcare provision we have in Swindon. I want to thank Jo and Mark for allowing Will and I to visit, listening to your experience and your suggestions was very insightful.”