Two hundred new school-based nurseries will create 4,000 places
The Government has announced that almost 200 new school-based nurseries will open in September delivering more than 4,000 early education and care places.
This will exceed the Government’s initial predictions on places.
The next phase of school-based nursery funding will launch in autumn.
NDNA has told the press that these new nurseries have to be in places with an unmet need and must not displace or threaten local existing provision.
Purnima Tanuku CBE, Executive Chair of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), said: “School-based nurseries working alongside private, voluntary and independent providers can support children and families in areas where there is limited access to high-quality, flexible early education and care. PVIs provide more flexibility to working parents, tending to open longer hours and not just during school term time.
“For parents, providers and the public purse, it is vital that these settings do not displace or threaten existing high-quality nurseries. We have already seen examples of public money being used where an existing nursery has been displaced or creating places for children in age groups where there is no evidence of additional need. Issues like these must be tackled to give everyone confidence in this policy.
“This policy is not just about quantity, the quality is vital as well. Investing in evidence-based programmes, like NDNA’s Maths Champions, is helping boost children’s outcomes in more early years settings across the country. It’s about setting children up for the future and can play a vital role in closing the attainment gap between children from less advantaged backgrounds and their peers.”
As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, the school-based nurseries will offer an average of 20 places. In the next few days the DfE will also announce the next phase of action to support children’s pre-school skills.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Giving every child the best start in life is my number one priority, and making sure hard-working parents are able to benefit from this rollout is a promise made, and promise kept.
“Every corner of the early years sector has a vital role to play, and the progress made so far, in the face of an enormous inherited delivery challenge, is testament to their dedication to children and families up and down the country.
“This September is only the beginning. This government has a clear Plan for Change to get tens of thousands more children school ready each year so that every child, from any background, gets the opportunities they need to get on in life.”
Read the full release here https://www.gov.uk/government/news/over-4000-school-based-childcare-places-this-september
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