We want to make life easier for working parents, and boost life
chances for children.
Parents need quality, affordable childcare in their local
area. As part of our plan to create thousands of new places in
school-based nurseries, we invited schools across England to
apply for funding to open an initial 300 new or expanded
nurseries.
From September, families across the country will benefit from new
places as the nurseries begin to expand and open, with up to
4,000 places available by the end of the month. This is part of
the government's promise to improve early years education and
childcare options for families.
But what are school-based nurseries and who will benefit? Here's
everything you need to know.
What is a school-based nursery?
A school-based nursery is nursery provision which operates out of
an existing primary school.
The nursery setting may operate independently from the school or
could be run by the school.
Some will offer childcare for ages three and four, whereas others
will cater for younger children. This will depend on the
individual setting as there are different regulations for schools
to follow depending on the age group.
Why are nurseries in schools popular with
parents?
Quality school-based nursery provision is popular with parents,
especially families with multiple children. It can mean a single
point of contact, easier drop-offs and pick-ups and continuity of
care from the beginning of a child's education.
It can also provide parents with flexibility around pick up times
if parents have multiple children at one school.
What are the other benefits of school-based
nurseries?
The entire childcare sector provides valuable care, but schools
are at the heart of our communities. School-based nursery
settings see lower staff turnover, which provides consistency for
children. On average, school-based nurseries also tend to look
after more children with SEND and offer a higher number of places
in some of the most deprived areas in the country.
Teachers have told us the benefits of nurseries on site, saying
it helps them build strong relationships between nursery and
school staff, leading to smoother transitions into school for
children.
How many new school-based nurseries are being
created?
The government has approved 300 new school-based nurseries in the
first round of funding, delivering on its manifesto pledge to
create thousands of new school-based nurseries by the end of this
Parliament.
How many places will be available?
The 300 new or expanded nurseries will offer an average of 20
places per site and up to 6,000 new places in total, with up to
4,000 set to be available by the end of September 2025.
Where will the new nurseries be located?
The first 300 school-based nurseries will be located in towns and
cities across the country, from Exeter to Newcastle Upon Tyne.
The majority of new nurseries opening are in the North or
Midlands, including around one in ten in the North East –
increasing access to childcare in areas where it's most
needed.
How much will this save families?
These measures, along with other childcare initiatives, will help
put more cash in parents' pockets. The rollout of 30
government-funded hours of childcare from September will save
parents up to £7,500 on average, while £450 per year will be
saved through free breakfast clubs in schools.
How is this being funded?
The government has more than doubled funding for the programme to
£37 million. This is alongside over £2 billion extra investment
going into the early years sector next year.
