The scheme is part of the government’s “major expansion” plans
Eight nurseries will be expanded or created at schools in our region to help cut childcare costs in the region’s poorest areas . Labour announced a “major expansion” of school‑based nurseries to deliver cost‑of‑living support, worth £8,000 a year on average to eligible parents accessing their full childcare entitlement, with thousands more nursery places from September to help parents balance work and family life.
In the latest drive by the government to bear down on the cost of living, thousands more parents will save on childcare costs as the government expands childcare to over 300 more schools from September – including eight in our region.
Combined with the government’s 30 hours of funded childcare, the Government is cutting childcare costs in half for working families, making the school run simpler with fewer drop offs during busy mornings, and helping parents return to work.
A further 331 schools across the country have been successful in applying for a share of £45 million funding to build or expand nurseries on their site. The new nurseries will add to thechildcare market and create over 6,000 more childcare places for children on top of the up to 6,000 already being delivered from the first phase of the programme.
Schools benefitting in our region are:
- Brook Acre Community Primary School, Warrington
- Everton Nursery School and Family Centre, Liverpool
- Garston Church of England Primary School, Liverpool
- Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Sefton
- Murdishaw West Community Primary School, Halton
- St James’ Church of England Primary School, St. Helens
- St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Sefton
- Woodside Primary School, Halton
New figures published today show over a million parents now use the government’s funded childcare offer. But the data also reveals lower take-up in poorer communities, highlighting the need to target new places where families face the biggest barriers to accessing childcare.
School-based nurseries already play a major role in filling those gaps, making up around 35% of childcare provision in the most deprived areas, compared with 16% in the least deprived.
From May, the programme will move to a locally led model, with councils, rather than schools, invited to propose plans for new places in communities with the greatest need
Best Start Family Hubs, soon to be opening in every local area, will also be able to host school-based nurseries. This will bring childcare together with family support, health visiting and early identification of special educational needs and disabilities under one roof – meaning more joined up support, for more families.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “As a parent, I know how hard it can be to juggle work and family life, especially in those early days where time is precious and sleep is short.
“School-based nurseries are already driving a seismic shift in how childcare supports families. Now we’re going even further to build on what works with over 300 new nurseries – cutting childcare costs, simplifying the school run, and helping parents at a time when household budgets are under real pressure.
“This is about targeting support where it’s needed most, easing the cost of living and giving every child the best start in life.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Our school-based nurseries are already helping fill the gaps in communities where childcare is hardest to find, giving children the strong start they deserve and helping parents access childcare close to home.
“By expanding these nurseries further and targeting them at the areas that need them most, we are making sure more families can benefit from quality early education while putting practical support in place to help with the cost of living.
“For too long, where a child grows up has shaped what they go on to achieve. This government was elected to change that – starting with giving every child the best start in life and making sure every family can access the childcare they need, wherever they live.”
