What steps her Department is taking to support school-based nurseries.
School-based nurseries are a key part of this government’s opportunity mission, delivering on our Plan for Change by expanding high-quality early education across our brilliant early years market in England. 300 schools have been awarded up to £150,000 to repurpose their unused space to open or expand a school-based nursery, totalling £37 million. This funding will create up to 6,000 new childcare places, most of which are expected to be available from September 2025. This is a first step to making more childcare places available and accessible so parents can take-up the funded childcare they are entitled to. These new and expanded nurseries will help boost access to quality childcare and early years education.The department has published guidance for schools on setting up a high-quality early years learning environment and are exploring what further support can be provided to successful schools who may be new to early years provision. The department is also delivering programmes to support the sector to attract talented staff and childminders by creating conditions for improved recruitment, alongside programmes to better utilise the skills of the existing workforce. We are working closely with the early years sector and local authorities to develop the next steps to achieving this manifesto commitment.