24/7 nurseries - could this be the future for childcare?
What do you think of this concept? A chain of nurseries on the Wirral is seeking permission to open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Owners of The Wendy House Nursery, which has three outlets, have put in a request to extend opening hours in order to accommodate requests it has had from shiftworker parents such as police staff, care workers, doctors and nurses.
Andrew Seasman, who owns the nurseries with his wife, has put in a request to the council asking permission for them to be open around the clock, offering daytime and nighttime childcare for parents who need the flexibility.
He believes that there is demand from parents who work locally and says there will be minimal disruption to those who live nearby as the children will be asleep from 8pm onwards.
He told the Liverpool Echo:
"It’s quite usual down south, I’m not aware of any others in this region. In our Upton nursery we’re right next to Arrowe Park Hospital, a fire station, police station and care homes.
These are all people who work shifts and we have had parents asking for sessions out of our usual hours but we can’t help them at the moment because we’re only allowed to stay open from 7.30am to 6pm.
Hopefully if it goes through we will be able to accommodate shift workers with later sessions.
People who don’t have family, or family nearby, find it difficult if they have to work shifts."
No decision has yet been made on the application but watch this space.
