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.