Government to expand childcare to hundreds more schools

The government’s funded school-based nursery programme is to be expanded into more places - including less well-off areas.

More than 300 schools will open or expand nurseries from September, which ministers believe could help families save up to £8,000 a year.

Take-up of funded childcare lower in poorer communities

More than a million parents currently use the government’s funded childcare offer. 

But figures show that take-up is lower is less affluent areas.

So the government is targeting new places in locations where it believes families face the biggest barriers to accessing childcare.

At the moment, school-based nurseries make up more than a third (35%) of childcare provision in the most deprived communities.

That compares with 16% in the least deprived areas.

Parents value school-based nurseries

So far, many parents feel that school-based nurseries have had a positive impact on their family life.

In a new survey, more than a third (37%) say they value being able to drop multiple children at the same place.

And almost six in ten (59%) feel it’s helped prepare for the school transition.

“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,” said prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.

“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."

Filling the gaps in childcare provision

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson added that school-based nurseries are helping to “fill the gaps” in places where childcare is hardest to find.

“For too long, where a child grows up has shaped what they go on to achieve,” she commented.

“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.”