The UK Government has launched a £15 million funding scheme to improve early years education. This scheme aims to establish up to 300 school-based nurseries across England
This plan coincides with the government’s aim to provide every child with a strong foundation for their education, whatever their background.
Schools can apply for grants of up to £150,000 to either create new nurseries or expand existing ones. After growing concerns for accessible and high-quality early education, the government implemented this plan. 321,000 additional children are now benefiting from 15 hours of government-funded early education per week.
Accessible early education
The government recognises the need to change barriers to childcare access, especially in disadvantaged areas where additional support is critical.
To ensure affordability, the government is addressing the issue of extra charges that parents often face on top of their funded hours. Concerns have been raised about mandatory fees for essentials like lunch and nappies, which should not be prerequisites for accessing funded places.
The government plans to clarify guidelines regarding such charges and to provide support to local authorities in protecting families from excessive costs.
Childcare costs
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasised the importance of ensuring that every child, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity for a high-quality early education. While some parents may face challenges in securing their preferred nursery places for the upcoming school year, the goal is to guarantee access to the entitled hours.
Current aims indicate a continued need for approximately 70,000 additional places and 35,000 early-year educators to meet the expanded demand for childcare. Many local areas, particularly in regions with historically lower incomes, must increase their capacity by 10% to 20% to accommodate this growth.
Funding opportunities for schools
The funding initiative hopes to use schools’ existing capacities, which tend to serve a higher proportion of children with special educational needs and those from deprived backgrounds. The government is also focusing on improving recruitment efforts to strengthen the early years workforce.
This funding scheme is designed to increase childcare availability and ensure that it is accessible and affordable for families across the country, supporting children’s development and parents’ ability to work. Schools interested in expanding their nursery provisions are encouraged to apply for this funding, with the expectation that successful applicants will begin delivering services by September 2025.
