Childcare Expansion Capital Grant

  • Applications to expand childcare in former children's centre buildings

    There will be two funding rounds.

    • Round 1: Opens for applications between October 13 and December 15, 2025.
    • Round 2: Will be advertised following the expression of interest selection process.

    Who can apply?

    The remaining Childcare Expansion Capital Grant is earmarked to support the development of many more places for children under five in eight former children’s centre buildings that are spread across our county.

    Three schools can apply for the grant in Round 1 because former children’s centres have been, or are in the process of being, transferred to them.

    They are:

    • Holsworthy Church of England Primary School
    • Marpool Primary School in Exmouth
    • South Brent Primary School

    To avoid delaying the creation of places- those schools can apply as soon as they are ready.

    In addition to the school applications, childcare providers that successfully expressed an interest in operating childcare out of the former children’s centre buildings in the following centres can apply in Round 2:

    • Hatherleigh
    • Sidmouth
    • Honiton
    • Tavistock
    • Great Torrington

    The Expression of Interest process has not yet been advertised as there is further work to be undertaken relating to leases. As soon as we are able this will be added to the website Opportunities for Development – Information for childcare providers and advertised through the Friday Digest, and other networks.

    What can be applied for?

    • Only essential work will be funded.
    • There is £570 000 of the grant remaining.
    • The grant is intended to enable all of the centres to open and for childcare to be offered to local families. As we do not know what work needs to be done or the cost of the work, we will take applications within each round and prioritise what is funded.
    • For example, in the first round with the three schools we will bear in mind that those applications represent 3/8 of the grant. However, we also need to factor in the size of each centre and also the level of need for the places.
    • Within the application we need providers to justify why they are applying by explaining why the work is essential.
    • Only capital projects can be funded. The grant cannot be used as revenue.
    • There is no upper limit on the amount that can be applied for. We hope that all applicants will take into consideration that the grant pot is not bottomless and that the grant must be spread across all 8 centres.

    Consideration and things to do before applying

    • The 3 schools must have extended the age range of the school to 0-11.
    • Confirmed with DCC how many places and for what ages of children need to be created. For those expressing an interest this will be stated on the application form.
    • Read the terms and conditions of the grant.
    • Get written permission from the landlord or building owner.
    • Quotes for the work/you may need to run a tendering process you should check.
    • Determined with building professionals how long the work will take to complete.
    • Have begun the registration process with Ofsted with support for the locality team.
    • Familiarise yourself with the scoring matrix.

    DO NOT apply before you are ready and have everything, we have asked you to provide with the application.

    How do I apply?

    Please download this application form: Capital Application for Children’s Centre Buildings

    Complete the form. Check you have answered fully. We need as much detail as you can give. Check the form again.

    Ensure all the required information and evidence is attached and send it to: buildingchildcare@devon.gov.uk

    How will applications be scored?

    The same Appraisal Panel will consider all applications and apply this revised scoring matrix in each round.

    Scoring Matrix for application for capital funds for former children’s centre buildings

  • General applications

    We are no longer accepting applications. Please read the Friday Digest newsletter as we will notify providers if a final round will be held in a few months time. Thank you

    As projects are funded and undertaken officers will monitor progress and if any do not go ahead or come in under budget we will inform providers through the Friday Digest and open for a final round of applications.

    Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to apply. 

    This webpage is for early years and childcare providers and prospective providers who want to know how to apply for Childcare Expansion Capital Grant funding in Devon.

    We strongly recommend that you read the terms and conditions of the grant and the pre-requisites as this could save you a considerable amount of time and effort. These documents set out the conditions and requirements you must fulfil before you can apply for the grant.

    After that you may want to go onto the Information and Guidance document and from there to the application form.

    Please download the Application Form onto a laptop or desktop computer. It is a long and complex form and is not suitable for completing on a mobile phone.

    This page will be further developed to ensure it is helpful and answers your questions. We hope to include a Frequently Asked Questions section in addition to the documents that are on here now.

    Progress updates will be posted as we go through the application and grant giving process. As part of the monitoring we hope to have photographs of the projects that have been undertaken and will share these with you. Please remember to take plenty of before and after pictures!


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