Growing places? An update on the childcare expansion capital grant

Posted on 27 February 2025 in News and updates

Since its introduction early in Autumn 2024, several providers (including nurseries, childminders and schools) have applied for capital funding to grow their provision for babies and two year olds.

Applications for the Childcare Expansion Capital grant closed sooner than was expected due to the high number of applications received just before and after Christmas. Several applications had not included the required number of quotes and so were given a few days more to submit these if they wanted their application to be scored. The appraisal panel has scored all of those applications now and all providers have received a response.

We hope to share more information about the new places being created by this funding in the future.

It is possible that there may be a few funds unspent that we will be able to offer in a final ‘mopping up’ round of applications. If that is the case, we will let you know through the digest much later in the year – once many of the projects have been undertaken. The application form will then be reinstated on the website: Childcare Expansion Capital Grant – Information for childcare providers

The unallocated funds that remain will be used to fund the necessary changes needed in some children’s centre buildings to make them suitable for operating full day care provision.

More information about opportunities to establish new childcare in children’s centre buildings will be published on this webpage: Opportunities for Development – Information for childcare providers

It is possible to grow your provision without capital and we encourage you to look ahead to September and beyond as we expect the demand for places – especially for babies – to continue to increase. If you haven’t done so already, please review your opening and closing times, the number of weeks you open and the number and ages of children that you take. In some cases, you may be able to offer more places without needing to do very much at all.

Please speak with your Early Years and Childcare Adviser if you are thinking about growing your provision. They would love to speak with you.