Looking for easy-to-understand information about the new school-based nursery grant available to primary schools? We’re EYFS scheme specialists and have collated all the information you’ll need from the various government documents.
This article covers what the school-based nursery grant is, who can apply, how to apply and main questions to consider before and during your application process.
What is the school-based nurseries grant for 2024?
In October 2024, the UK government opened applications for up to £150,000 as part of the school-based nursery (SBN) expansion plans 2025.
The government funding is part of a larger plan to tackle childcare costs for parents, nursery place availability and falling school roll numbers. The broader goal is to break the connections between a child’s background and their available opportunities.
Here are the key chunks of information:
- £15 million of capital funding has been committed to the project
- The expansion plans tie into Labour’s aim to create 3334 new SBNs across
England - The increase in EYFS provision will make space for 100,000 new nursery spaces
- The funding must be applied for by the 19 th of December 2024
- The grant is available for schools that already have an EYFS provision (and have additional space for the increased provision planned)
- The funding can be used to alter existing environments to make them nursery-suitable, improve facilities and create play spaces
- The funding will be allocated to successful applicants in Spring 2025
- Your local authority must support your application
- The nursery provision can be delivered by private, voluntary or independent (PVI) childcare providers operating on a school’s behalf
- The SBN must be operational in the 2025-2026 academic year
- Your school must provide an accurate breakdown of all costs involved
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Who is eligible to apply for the school-based nursery grant?
Schools with falling roll numbers will not be meeting their possible capacity and, therefore, can extend their provision by adding a school-based nursery provision with the help of this grant. The school-based nursery grant is available to all state-funded primary schools in England with existing EYFS provision. There must be unused spaces in the school building (this includes any sister ‘satellite sites’ a school has).
The grant's target audience is schools with falling rolls. The school’s Published Admissions Number (PAN) identifies how many pupils it can admit into a specific age group (like reception). Schools may extend the provision and lease the newly created space to PVI childcare providers. By creating a partnership with an existing nursery that may want to expand into your SBN provision, the local area will experience nursery services that can better meet demand.
Wanting to pair with an established nursery?
Your local authority has a statutory duty to ensure there is enough early education for working parents. With the expansion of childcare funding this year increasing to support working parents with children from 9 months old there is an increase in demand for quality nursery places. The local authority team will suggest potential nursery partners for your school to pair up with.
What can the school-based nursery grant be spent on?
There is a cap of £150,000 that can be applied for, and there are conditions on what it can be spent on.
The sole purpose of the SBN grant is to repurpose existing unused space in primary school sites.
School-based nursery funding can be spent on:
- The conversion of an existing building that isn’t used as a nursery provision currently
- The alteration of existing spaces to make them nursery-fit (refurbishment, renovation or refits)
- The upgrading or alterations needed to essential systems to make the nursery suitable (like heating, plumbing, safety, electrical works)
- The purchasing of physical assets for the nursery provision (like furniture and computer equipment- it is important to note this doesn’t cover general teaching materials, software programmes or nursery supplies)
- Play space improvement (including the outdoor provision on the playground, creating an EYFS-specific play area, EYFS free flow areas, outdoor learning opportunities and play that is linked to the 7 areas of EYFS learning
- External play canopies and gazebos to encourage outdoor play
- Works required to make the space usable (like tree replacement for features and finishes)
- Toilet facility replacement or installation for younger children
- Safety features that will allow schools to control door access, and intercoms separately run from the main school
- Suitable fencing for security and to section play areas
- Payment of professional advice and services, design costs and surveys that are needed to deliver the works
Exceptions to SBN grant use:
There are costs that the school-based nursery funding cannot cover. These costs are associated with the operational running of the nurseries, not the initial set-up.
- Nursery staff salaries (including early years teachers, practitioners and
internal staffing costs) - Bills
- Ofsted registration fees (if this is needed)
- General supplies used for teaching or maintenance of the provision
- Anything that falls into day-to-day operational or administrative costs
- Upgrading infrastructure that will not exclusively benefit the new provision
- Refurbishments to current nursery provision that do not directly correlate to the expansion of places
- You cannot backdate any costs spent before the SBN grant was launched
- If the scope of the project changes after DfE approval (this is not covered and will be paid for by the school)
It is important to choose companies trusted to deliver exceptional service, provide a high level of communication, and be known for their integrity regarding agreed pricing and timescales.
How do schools apply for the school-based nurseries grant?
Before the application is completed online (you can find the application form here), there must be interactions with your local authority.
Before your application is completed, you’ll need to complete a number of tasks. Some companies and services you use will be able to complete these for you. As you are not guaranteed to receive the funding, any costs incurred when gathering the information for the application form should be factored in.
Schools must submit their applications, with any necessary supporting documents, before December 19, 2024. It is recommended that you reach out to the providers you are considering using to gather your quotes quickly and calculate the total.
Questions to ask before completing the SBN application
Here are some questions for you and your school team to consider when gathering your information.
- Where will the provision be based?
- Do you have evidence that there are current childcare needs in your area? (identify the number of childcare places and predicted birth rates, you’ll also want to factor in the introduction of the working parent funding expansion)
- How will you run the provision? (school-ran or in partnership with a PVI or childminder)
- How will your provision be financially stable and sustainable? (consider the benefits and flexibility you’ll have with staffing due to being attached to the school)
- Will the project use existing surplus school space?
- Have you spoken to the local authority about your plans? (LA Early Year Lead, LA Pupil Place Planning Lead, Local Planning Authority)
- Will the project be funded solely by the SBN grant or other funding avenues?
- Have you contacted the landowner for permission? (local authority, trust, foundation or relevant religious body)
- If partnering with an existing early education provider, have you contacted the local authority for suggestions?
- Will your Pupil Admission Number (PAN) change for school-aged pupils?
- What will be the nursery’s opening hours? (term-time or year-round)
- What will your nursery capacity look like for the academic years 2024-2025 through 2026-2027?
- Will the nursery provision impact the potential for holiday childcare? (if your nursery provision will be term-time, will other pupils use the provision during summer holidays, for example)
- Do you have site layouts, CAD design plans and a description of the scope of the work? (These plans will need to be uploaded to your application)
- Have you undergone the necessary 3-4 week consultation with interested local parties to gather their feedback?
- Do you have at least one quote for your works? (you are required only to have one but can have up to 3)
- Do you have access to project timeline information? (you should have information about the design, the planning approval if required, the date then tender process begins, the start and end date and when the doors are set to open)
- Have you completed a risk assessment linked to the project? (companies or tradespeople going out of business/ being unable to complete the project)
Upgrading your EYFS play space
As so much of your nursery provision is flexible and can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors, your outdoor play provision is a biggie. We specialise in EYFS schemes. Working with our early years customers for the last 30+ years, we know what makes an excellent free-flow provision, making the most of movable equipment, versatile play equipment, and unloved areas of your outdoor space.
Play space design
When you are looking to research and submit your playground enhancement plans, consider the design layouts you will share. Your unused space will likely need some creativity when designing your ideal EYFS playground. Reach out to experts in EYFS playground design to come and measure up and evaluate your space and advise you on the possibilities you have to play with.
Reliable communication
During this project, it is expected there will be some back-and-forth communication between the companies you use for the project. Having a designated project manager for the sections of your project will take the strain from your leadership team.
All of our projects have a designated project manager responsible for your total project from start to finish- it’s one of the reasons why our customers recommend us to their network so willingly.
EYFS play equipment range
Ensure the playground design you choose includes a range of play equipment. Your playground must cover all aspects of the EYFS curriculum and provide plenty of opportunities to develop across the 7 areas of learning.
If you’d like to see our full EYFS range, order your free brochure and it will be with you within the week.
Integrity with timescales and pricing
The grant conditions are clear- your application will be considered based on the timelines and pricing you submit. Any changes to timings and prices will be covered outside of the grant. Making the choice of company essential.
A recent survey highlighted that 100% of our customers are happy with the quality of our play equipment, and the communication and organisation of the project are celebrated after every project we complete.
Your next steps
Your local playground design consultant will have a number of slots for you to book in your design visit. To secure your slot, you’ll need to contact a member of our team (through our website form, email or phone) and book your visit date.
Then, your designated consultant will meet you on your school site to talk through your goals and plans for the space. Equally, if you aren’t sure what is possible for the unused space you are repurposing- that’s their strength. Let your consultant share the possibilities with you to meet your pupil need, budget and space available.
Next you will receive a 3D playground design layout (which can be submitted as part of your application) and a detailed itemised quote for all works involved in the project, not just the equipment itself.
We’ll get cracking once you’re happy with your design and timescale. Fawns operate on a no-upfront-cost basis, meaning your project invoice will only be due 30 days after the project is finished.
To get in touch with our team, here’s the contact details you’ll need:
Contact us through our website form
Chat with us via email
Give us a ring on 01252515199
More articles you’ll like:
Playgrounds: Not just for summer!
Best outdoor play equipment for the EYFS 7 areas of learning
How to spend your EYPP
