Capital Grant to Deliver 300 School-based Nurseries
The Department for Education has launched a new initiative aimed at expanding early years provision across the country. The School-Based Nursery Capital Grant scheme offers eligible primary schools up to £150,000 to convert surplus space into nursery space.
The announcement highlighted that the scheme is to support the 2025 scheme to provide 30 hours/week of government funded hours for childcare and early education to working parents. It has been noted that currently that the availability of early years provision is not evenly distributed with the most disadvantaged areas often receiving the least amount of provision.
Who Can Apply?
The eligibility criteria states the school:
- Must be a state-funded primary school in England
- Must already offer some form of early education (such as reception classes)
- Must have surplus space available within the school building
- Need to secure local authority support
- Must obtain necessary landlord consent where applicable
Notably, maintained nursery schools and special schools are not eligible for this round of funding, though they are encouraged to register their interest for future opportunities.
What This Means for Early Years Education
This initiative represents a significant step toward increasing early years provision within existing school settings. By utilising surplus space in primary schools, the scheme offers a practical solution to expanding nursery capacity while making efficient use of school buildings.
For parents and communities, this means:
- More accessible nursery places
- Smoother transitions between nursery and primary education
- Distribution of equal early provision across the country
How ready are you?
Munday + Cramer are here to support you through every step of this process. We have a team of professionals that specialise in education allied within bid writing. If your primary school has an existing nursery looking to expand, or indeed would like to create a new nursery to extend your provision, this funding could be for you.
Click here to book a free consultation considering the main aspects for a well evidenced business to underpin your nursery funding application.
If your school is interested in this opportunity, the first step is to thoroughly review the official guidance and eligibility criteria. Fill out our eligibility form which will give you a better understanding what you need to have a strong proposal.