A PAIR of pre-schools have been praised by an MP.

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller has visited Hatch Warren Under 5’s Pre-school, based at Hatch Warren Community Centre, where she was met by the pre-school’s manager Pam Jones, and the manager of sister pre-school, Kempshott Under 5’s, held at St Mark’s Church, in Kempshott.

Both pre-schools have recently been awarded the Millie’s Mark accreditation, which is named after Millie Thomson, who died after choking on food at a nursery in 2012, when she was nine-months-old.

The mark recognises that all staff are trained in paediatric first aid, and regularly practise and refresh that training.

Mrs Miller said: “I was very pleased to visit the Hatch Warren Pre-school and meet staff and children, and hear about Millie’s Mark. I applaud the Hatch Warren and Kempshott Pre-schools on achieving this exceptional award, and was particularly interested to hear about how they are able to look after children with more complex health needs.

“I understand that they are the only two early years settings in the Basingstoke area to have achieved Millie’s Mark and I would encourage other pre-schools and nurseries to look into this and work towards achieving Millie’s Mark, as an important way to enhance their care for young children and offer greater peace of mind to parents and carers.”