£15m Boost for Primary Schools to Offer Nursery Places as Part of Government’s 3,000 Nurseries Expansion Plan

Grants available for primary schools to provide nursery spots

This initiative marks the initial phase of the government's strategy to establish 3,000 new nurseries across England by enhancing existing facilities in primary schools, as outlined in the Labour Party's manifesto.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Thursday, October 17, 2024, at 3

A new £15 million initiative has been introduced to provide primary schools with the resources to offer hundreds of additional nursery spots.

This initiative marks the initial phase of the government's strategy to launch 3,000 new nurseries across England by enhancing existing facilities in primary schools, as outlined in Labour's manifesto.

Schools may request as much as £150,000 to support the establishment or enlargement of 300 nurseries, according to the latest update from the Department for Education (DfE).

The statement also promised to address reports of parents encountering "excessive extra fees" to utilize government-supported childcare services.

Since August, parents of children aged nine months to two years have been able to utilize 15 hours of complimentary childcare per week, with an expansion to 30 hours weekly set for all qualifying families by September 2025.

Advocates for early childhood education have cautioned that the so-called "free" nursery spots are not entirely without cost, as nurseries are compelled to impose additional fees for essentials such as diapers, meals, or field trips due to insufficient funding.

The authorities have announced plans to collaborate with local bodies and service providers to refine the official guidelines regarding fees, particularly those known as "top up fees". They will also explore ways to enhance the support for local councils to prevent parents from being excessively charged.

Further Details on Education:

The count of students with severe absenteeism has surged by 160% compared to levels before the pandemic.

Calls for Starmer to support prohibiting smartphones in schools to prevent students from endless negative browsing.

Survey reveals fines fail to discourage parents from taking vacations during school terms

Associated Subjects:

Government projections indicate that an increase to 30 funded hours in the coming September will require roughly 70,000 new spots and 35,000 early childhood education workers.

Newly released forecasts indicate that approximately half of the regional zones must boost their capabilities by 10% to 20% to satisfy the demand anticipated in September.

In regions typically associated with lower average family earnings, such as Northumberland, Plymouth, and Rotherham, there is a necessity for a boost in income exceeding 20%.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, "Every child deserves the chance for an excellent early education, regardless of their identity, background, or their parents' income."

"Our innovative on-campus daycare centers are set to offer numerous extra spots in the areas that most require them, addressing long-standing shortages and ensuring that location does not hinder access to top-notch childcare services.

"Although not every parent will secure their top choice for next September, I am committed to ensuring that every parent can utilize and afford the time they are eligible for."

Associated Subjects

Sky News Bottom Section

Information About Sky News

Services Provided by Sky News

Sky Television Networks

Additional Sky Websites