Government Announces £45 Million Investment to Expand School Nurseries

The government is investing £45 million in early years education, with the goal of creating up to 7,000 new school nursery places across England by September 2026. The Department for Education (DfE) will use the funding to establish an additional 300 school-based nurseries, building on the initial phase of the program.

Schools will be able to apply for grants of up to £150,000 to either build new nursery facilities or expand existing ones. The government will prioritize applications from schools located in disadvantaged communities, aiming to ensure that all children have equal access to early education.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson highlighted the benefits of school-based nurseries, emphasizing their nurturing environment and the convenience they offer to working parents. The initiative is part of the "Best Start" program, which aims to provide more choices and support for families.

In the previous year, schools were able to bid for a share of £15 million to establish the first 300 school-based nurseries. This was later increased to £37 million to support the full rollout of the government's childcare offer for September 2025. The initial phase created an additional 4,000 school-based nursery places for the current school year.

This announcement coincides with the latest phase of the government's funded childcare rollout. As of September 1, eligible working parents in England can access 30 hours a week of free childcare for children over nine months old.

Experts have welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the importance of accessible and affordable childcare for boosting labor market participation and family incomes. The co-location of nurseries with schools can also make daily logistics more manageable for parents.

While the creation of more early education places is welcomed, it's noted that school nurseries still represent a small portion of the overall early years places. Concerns have been raised about workforce pressures within the sector, with many nurseries operating below full capacity due to staff vacancies.

A recent report has warned that workforce challenges must be addressed to ensure the early years sector can recruit and retain staff to meet the demands of the childcare expansion. To attract staff to nurseries in disadvantaged communities, early years teachers will be offered a £4,500 payment.