PRINCETOWN Pre-School had a visit from West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox recently to discuss the future of the pre-school.

Mr Cox spent time talking to the staff and children and discussing the future with chairman Sheila Manning, manager Stephanie Brittan and others and discussing its importance to families in the village.

The pre-school provides a breakfast club from 8am and an after-school club that enables parents to be confident that their children will be safely and well looked after until 5pm, enabling many to get to work.

Mr Cox said: 'Without the essential child care service that the Princetown Pre-School provides and with insufficient jobs available in Princetown, it would be almost impossible for many parents to work in places such as Tavistock and Plymouth.

'I was delighted to see how happy the children were and the safe, warm and welcoming environment that Stephanie and her staff maintain in the purpose-built section of the Princetown Community Centre.

'I attended the opening of the Community Centre five years ago and it is heart-warming to see that in this respect it is fulfilling the really important community purpose for which it was intended.

'The Government appreciates how good pre-school provision and child care is vital to families with young children in West Devon and Torridge and the new tax-free childcare scheme will provide 20 percent support on childcare costs up to £10,000 per year for each child, meaning parents will receive support of up to £2,000 per child per year.

'The scheme will mean all working parents with children under 12 will be eligible for the scheme from autumn 2015.'

l Mr Cox is pictured right, with some of the children and staff at Princetown Pre-School group.