THE Prime Minister visited a nursery in Basingstoke today meeting staff and children.

PM Rishi Sunak visited Kids Nursery, in Shakespeare Road, Popley, alongside Basingstoke’s MP Maria Miller as part of a tour of Hampshire on Friday, January 19.

Mr Sunak’s visit comes ahead of an increase in free childcare which is being rolled out nationwide in April, and by September 2025 all parents with children under four will have 30 hours of free childcare for each child under four. 

Mr Sunak said: “It was great to visit Kids Nursery Basingstoke to meet with staff and children. Providing high-quality and affordable childcare is a priority for the Government, and so it was fantastic to see how dedicated the Kids' staff are to creating a safe and nurturing environment for their children.  

“Thank you to Basingstoke’s MP, Maria Miller, Kids’ staff and the children for such a warm welcome.” 

READ MORE: Prime Minister visits Basingstoke nursery on tour of Hampshire - in pictures

Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, Kids Charity, which operates the nursery said: “The children at Kids’ nursery shared the joy of their morning session with the Prime Minister @RishiSunak, and Dame Maria Miller DBE, MP for Basingstoke today.

“They enjoyed sharing the fun of a range of activities that help disabled and non-disabled children to explore, interact, and grow together. The children even threw a Downing Street themed tea party!

“The visit provided an opportunity for the politicians to experience a truly inclusive setting where children – those with special educational needs and disabilities and their non-disabled friends – come together and thrive in the same environment.”

Following the PM’s visit, Dame Maria said: “The cost of living is still putting real pressure on families. Extra help with childcare costs from April will make a real difference. I have brought the Prime Minister to see the fantastic support given to children and families in Kids Nursery’ in Popley, with disabled and non-disabled children in a fully inclusive nursery.

“In Basingstoke we need an extra 700 childcare places to make sure every family gets the free places they need. I am working with parents at Kids to make sure we know the sort of childcare places that parents want. Places for children with disabilities and chronic illness are vital. Too often parents can find it impossible to get back into work unless the right specialist childcare is available. 

“The Prime Minister has seen today the importance of specialist support for children with special needs. I want more childcare places like this to be available to parents and children in Basingstoke.”