Childcare cash to create 1,500 more places

The expansion is being funded by the New Opportunities Fund through childcare grants.

Communities are to benefit from the increase in provision, with the announcement of ten grant awards totalling £665,148 from the fund's Out of School Hours Childcare programme.

The awards from the fund, which distributes National Lottery grants to health, education and environment projects, will enable a variety of after-school clubs, community groups and local authorities to provide childcare for three to 14-year-olds.

The Croft Out-of-School Club, near Darlington, has been awarded £8,700, providing 48 new places.

The grant will be used to create 16 before-school, 16 after-school and 16 holiday places for children.

Pupils from schools in the area will benefit.

The largest grant in the region will go to Gateshead Borough Council, where £232,893 will provide 340 places.

Also in Gateshead, the Time Out, Out of School Childcare Project will receive £43,131.

Maggie McPhee, representing the project, said: "The New Opportunities Fund has really given us something to celebrate on our eighth birthday, this month.

"The award means we can offer 108 new places for out-of-school care for children at ten local schools.

"It is also enabling us to launch a satellite project for the Brandling Primary School area."

Tarka Ltd, at Trimdon Station, County Durham, received grants of £114,500 and £188,100 to provide 285 places for children in Darlington and Northallerton, and 508 places for children from around the area from 26 schools.

In Redcar, the Sunshine After School Club received £25,044 to provide 48 places; St Agnes Playgroup at Ryton, Gateshead, received £29,326 to provide 80 places; and Skelton Out of School Club in Saltburn, east Cleveland, received £10,000 for 24 places.

Newcastle's Crocodile Mobile Creche received £32,533 to provide 72 places, and the Kingston Park Out of School Childcare Club, also in the city, received £25,219 for 72 places