£15M Boost: Primary Schools to Provide Nursery Places as Part of Major Expansion Plan

Financial support is now 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 facilities in primary schools, as outlined in Labour’s manifesto.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Thursday, 17 October 2024 at 3:36

A new £15 million initiative has been introduced to provide numerous nursery spots across primary schools.

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

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced that schools can request up to £150,000 to support the creation or enlargement of 300 nurseries, as part of this stage of the initiative.

The statement also promised to address the instances where parents were being charged excessively high fees to utilize government-funded childcare services.

Since August, parents of children aged nine months to two years have been able to benefit from 15 hours of complimentary childcare, with plans to expand this to 30 hours weekly for all qualifying families by September 2025.

Advocates for early childhood education have cautioned that so-called "free" nursery spots are costing parents more due to additional charges for items such as diapers, meals, and field trips, which are necessary to cover funding gaps.

The government announced plans to collaborate with local authorities and service providers to refine the guidelines on fees, specifically addressing additional "top up fees," and to explore ways to assist local authorities in safeguarding parents against excessive charges.

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Government projections indicate that an expansion to 30 funded hours by next September will require approximately 70,000 new places and 35,000 early years personnel.

Newly released forecasts indicate that approximately 50% of regional zones must boost their infrastructure by 10% to 20% to accommodate the expected demand in September.

In regions typically associated with lower average family earnings, such as Northumberland, Plymouth, and Rotherham, there is a need for a greater than 20% rise.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, "Every child deserves the chance to access exceptional early education, regardless of their background, origin, or their parents' income."

The latest initiative for school-based nurseries is set to open thousands of new spots precisely in the areas where they are most required. This approach aims to address longstanding deficiencies and ensures that location does not hinder access to top-tier childcare services.

"Although some parents might not secure their preferred spot by next September, I am committed to ensuring that every parent can utilize and afford the hours they are entitled to."

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