The government has called for the next wave of primary schools to apply for new or expanded nurseries on their grounds, to make life easier for parents, to cut down the school run and to give children a seamless start to their education.
In the same month that over half a million children aged nine months through to reception are starting to benefit from the expansion of funded childcare from 15 to 30 free hours, as part of its wider Best Start strategy, the government has confirmed that the initial £37 million investment has created over 4,000 extra school-based nursery places.
To assist the drive to give every child the best start in life, James Naish MP is now encouraging relevant local primary schools to bid for up to £150,000 funding from a new £45 million pot to create a further 300 new or expanded school-based nurseries – offering up to 7,000 more places – from September 2026.
James said: “Parents in Rushcliffe regularly tell me that access to affordable childcare is one of the biggest challenges they face.
“The expansion of free childcare is now saving local families up to £7,500 a year, helping parents stay in work, easing the cost of living and giving children the early education they deserve – but there are still challenges getting places, and I know the sector has financial sustainability worries too.
“We need a holistic response to early years education that works for children, parents and childcare professionals, which isn’t always easy – but I am cautiously optimistic about some of the reforms being brought forwards.”
The school-based nursery initiative is expected to prioritise areas with limited childcare availability, often known as ‘childcare cold spots’, to ensure no child is left behind.
Parents can now also access BestStartinLife.gov.uk, a new online platform offering guidance, tools and support for navigating the early years and beyond – from development milestones to practical help on childcare entitlements. The platform will continue to grow in the coming months, becoming a trusted hub for parents and carers across the country.
In Rushcliffe, data suggests that 9 in 10 families are securing one of their top three nursery choices, and the government will be increasing funding to the sector to £9 billion next year to maintain momentum.
Other initiatives already announced as part of the Best Start programme include:
- Free breakfast clubs in primary schools, saving families around £450 a year. A pilot is currently running in Normanton-on-Soar in Rushcliffe.
- Acap on branded school uniforms to reduce financial pressures.
- £1.4 billion to fix crumbling classrooms, ensuring every child learns in a safe, high-quality environment.
James concluded:
“I’m pleased to see the government is thinking beyond short-term, sticking plaster fixes. We need to create a better, more flexible future for our education system – one where every child gets the best start in life and every parent can work, earn and support their family with confidence. I’ll keep engaging with parents and professionals about this over the coming months.”
Photo of James Naish MP outside Sutton Bonington Primary School undergoing a multi million pound government funded build
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