The UK government has announced the launch of the first 300 schools to receive funding as part of a £15 million initiative aimed at expanding early years education. This funding is set to create an estimated 6,000 new nursery places, with a significant focus on areas classified as childcare "cold spots," particularly in the North of England and the Midlands.
According to the Department for Education (DfE), school-based early education is deemed more inclusive, particularly for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The DfE referenced a report by the Institute for Government that highlights how school settings can provide a familiar environment for children, which is crucial in helping them settle into learning. The DfE states, "And in areas where deprivation is higher, having early years provision embedded within a primary school helps children settle into learning in a familiar and trusted environment." This continuity is vital for closing developmental gaps before they widen, as noted in findings from the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
However, the announcement has drawn mixed reactions from early years bodies. The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) expressed concerns over the government’s focus on school nurseries, which they argue undermines the efforts of private, voluntary, and independent (PVI) settings. NDNA chief executive Purnima Tanuku criticized the DfE's claim of school settings being more inclusive, stating that it is "wrong" to suggest that school nurseries are superior for children transitioning into reception. She added that this perspective is "insensitive and extremely demoralising" for the PVI sector, which is already struggling due to rising operational costs.
As many as two in five PVI nurseries are reportedly planning to reduce the number of government-funded places available for three- and four-year-olds, as they grapple with increasing costs associated with minimum wage and national insurance hikes. This backdrop of financial strain raises questions about the sustainability of the existing early years framework.
Among the schools benefiting from this funding initiative is Bloemfontein Primary School in County Durham, which plans to utilize its grant to open a baby room. Headteacher Alex Armstrong emphasized the importance of addressing the local shortage of nursery places: "We wanted to address the shortage of nursery places in our local area and to provide the community with high-quality early education for our youngest learners. This funding will enable us to transform unused school space into an engaging and vibrant environment, offering year-round childcare for children from birth to five."
In addition to the 6,000 new places, the DfE has confirmed that from September 2025, the 30-hour entitlement will be available for all children over nine months old until they reach school age. This initiative is part of a broader effort to alleviate the childcare burden on working families, which includes the introduction of 30 government-funded hours of childcare, potentially saving parents up to £7,500 annually. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, "Delivering on our promise of a better early years system is my top priority, which is why we’ve more than doubled our investment in this first phase so thousands more children can benefit from a high-quality early education from this September."
Phillipson further highlighted the government's commitment to improving early years education, stating, "We said we’d act, and now we have. But this is just the beginning - we’ve set a hugely important milestone to get tens of thousands more children every year school-ready by age 5 as part of our Plan for Change. We’re raising the bar for early years, delivering on our manifesto commitments and building a system that gives every child the best start in life."
As the government rolls out these initiatives, concerns remain about the overall strategy for early years education. Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, warned that focusing solely on increasing school-based provision is insufficient. He remarked, "Ultimately, if the government is truly serious about breaking down barriers to opportunity, it must come to the realisation that increasing school-based provision can only ever be one piece of a much larger puzzle. Failing to recognise this will simply mean more families will lose out."
In South Essex, two new school-based nurseries have been established at Bournes Green Infant School and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, funded by a portion of the £37 million allocated by the government for this initiative. These schools are among the first 300 across the UK to benefit from the scheme, which aims to expand access to early years education and provide an average of 20 places per site. Labour MP David Burton-Sampson noted the advantages of having nursery places within schools, particularly for families with siblings already enrolled, stating, "Nursery places in schools are perfect for children with siblings already in the school setting and can unlock much-needed opportunities for parents."
The government has also introduced measures to make childcare more affordable, including providing free breakfast clubs in schools, which can save parents an additional £450 per year. These initiatives reflect a growing recognition of the challenges faced by families in securing reliable and affordable childcare.
As the rollout progresses, the DfE faces the challenge of balancing the needs of various stakeholders in early years education, from schools to private nurseries. The success of this funding initiative will ultimately depend on how well these entities can collaborate to ensure that all children have access to high-quality early education, regardless of their background.
