Starting this September, 300 new school-based nurseries will open across the UK, helping parents and caregivers not only save money, but also get back to work.
The positive news comes as part of the government's promise and plan to increase access to childcare and put money back in parents pockets. It follows the launch of 30 hours of free childcare - expected to save parents up to £7,500 on average, while £450 per year will be saved through free breakfast clubs in primary schools.
With the cost of a having a child affecting many young families and this month bringing another round of rising bills, families across the UK are feeling the pressure, so this will come as some welcome news.
A total of £37 million has been made available by the Department of Education (DfE) to fund the programme. The first few hundred locations have been spread across the country and the majority of new nurseries will be opening in the North or Midlands to increase access to childcare where it's most needed.
The first round of funding for these school-based nurseries comes as new research shows that early education is vital for children’s development and school readiness. To give early learning a boost, the 300 school-based nurseries will provide an average of 20 places and up to an impressive 6,000 new places in total, with up to 4,000 set to be available by the end of September, hoping to quell the extra demand.
What is a school-based nursery?
School-based nurseries will offer childcare within a primary school facility, catering to three and four-year-olds although others may still provide care for younger children. The exact age range will depend on each individual nursery and whether it operates independently or is run by the school.
What are the benefits of school-based nurseries?
With the cost of living showing no signs of slowing down, this new scheme will provide valuable and much-needed care to parents and caregivers who need it the most. On average, school-based nurseries also tend to look after more children with SEND and offer a higher number of places in some deprived areas of the country, which will bring a sigh of relief to many.
Being located in the school will make the transition from nursery to school a lot easier because of the familiar setting, plus parents can do drop offs and pick ups easier if they have older children at the school.
What if my school isn't part of the scheme?
The full list of the first 300 school-based nurseries where the programme is being rolled out can be seen here. This is the first wave with the government’s plan to deliver 3,000 school-based nurseries to follow.
Keya Modessa, is our Senior Digital Writer and brings over a decade of experience from the digital realm to Mother&Baby. As a mother of two, Keya understands the joys and challenges of modern parenthood and uses her own experience, to give practical advice. Keya has worked across national publications including glossy women's mags, Food and Travel, and more recently as digital lead for Muddy Stilettos.