'Affordable' Crewe childcare provider urging parents to secure places for September
An "affordable" Crewe childcare provider is urging parents to secure places for September, ahead of extra free government-funded hours starting this autumn.
Smart Start Childminding, Nursery and Pre-School, with settings on Underwood Lane and Stewart Street, has been operating in Crewe since 2012 and was awarded 'Good' by Ofsted in 2024.
Owned and manager by Sara Linwood, 42, from Crewe, the mother-of-five launched Smart Start to ensure working parents can access cheap, "quality" childcare locally.
Sara told Nub News: "I have been operating as a childcare provider since 2012. We have two settings in Crewe, with one on Underwood Lane and another on Stewart Street.
"I was born in Crewe, grew up in Middlewich and then moved back to Crewe. I opened Smart Start to offer affordable childcare to working parents.
"Here, we offer affordable childcare to working parents from four weeks old up until 12 years old, as well as offering before and after-school care.
"Smart Start supports disadvantaged children who might not otherwise have access to a soft play centre, garden and all the activities we provide here.
"On Underwood Lane, we have our own in-built soft play centre. We are the only nursery in Crewe with this facility.
"We have our own indoor sandpit and outdoor play area, with our settings run by 13 qualified and experienced DBS-checked staff members.
"Our Stewart Street location is a more home from home setting run out of my house in log cabins in the gardens. We have three separate rooms there for babies, twos and pre-school."
Currently, working parents can access up to 15 hours of free childcare at facilities like Smart Start, for children aged from nine months to three years.
From September 2025, this will be doubled, allowing working parents in England to access up to 30 hours free childcare for children aged between nine months and four years.
To be eligible, you typically need to be working (or starting a new job), and meet specific income requirements. You may be eligible if your partner is working or if you are on certain benefits.
You can apply for the 30 hours of funded childcare through GOV.UK, with more information HERE.
Sara said: "We are really pushing for parents to start looking at securing their childcare for September.
"Come that time when everyone has their free funded hours, there aren't enough nursery spaces in Crewe currently to be able to provide that so they really need to secure places as soon as possible.
"For the parents who qualify, we will provide the 30 hours of free childcare at our locations in Crewe. We dont charge any top-up fees.
"The service will be completely free if parents have the funded hours for their nine month olds to four year olds.
"Over on Stewart Street we provide children with all meals, snacks, extracurricular activities and more. We look forward to hearing from you."
Smart Start Pre-School & Childcare is open 9am to 3pm (Underwood Lane) and 8am to 6pm (Stewart Street), Monday to Friday.
To get in touch email [email protected]. You can contact Smart Start's Underwood Lane setting on 01270 421451 and its Stewart Street site on 07788299638.
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