School based nurseries

  • School based nurseries phase 3

    New guidance has been published for Phase 3: School-based Nursery Capital Grant 2027-2030

    We will take time to read, digest and plan how this will work for us in Devon.

    Schools and providers will be contacted in due course with further information. In the meantime, we strongly recommend that you read the guidance:

    In phase 3, local authorities have a greater role to lead the programme in alignment with their duty to secure sufficient childcare places.

    From 4 February, we [the Department for Education] are inviting local authorities to develop multi-year funding proposals to deliver new and extended SBNs between 2027 and 2030, with the first places available from September 2027.

    This builds on the success of earlier phases of the programme, giving local authorities the opportunity to work with key stakeholders to develop strategic plans for SBNs in line with their local need.

    Local authorities can apply for funding for SBN projects in state-funded primary schools, maintained nursery schools and on Best Start Family Hubs (BSFH) sites. Schools and BSFHs can partner with private, voluntary, and independent providers (PVIs) and childminders to deliver nursery provision.

    To allow local authorities to put forward proposals that meet their local need, there will be no cap on the amount of capital funding they can apply for per SBN project for phase 3, although projects must deliver good value for money.

    Funding proposals must be submitted by 5pm on 30 September 2026.

  • Department for Education guidance

    Establishing school-based nursery provision  

    Early years school-based nursery provision operating outside of the typical model
    A look at different childcare operating models for school-based nurseries offering non-typical provision, how they are run and the guidance and support offered. 

    Early years provision: onsite nursery on a Best Start Family Hub site
    How a Best Start Family Hub integrates early-years education alongside other wider family support. 

    Early years provision: new preschool class within an existing space
    How the School-based Nursery Capital Grant funding helped a primary school to repurpose an existing space to create a new preschool class 

  • Before applying for Phase 2

    What is a school based nursery?

    A school-based nursery is an early year’s setting that operates within a primary, infant or nursery school.

    It is located on the grounds of a school, often with dedicated internal and external areas. It is run by qualified early years practitioners who follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, like other nurseries, preschools, childminders and reception classes in England. Eligible children can use their funded early education hours there. Funding is based on the take up of places and hours.

    Provision for children under two requires a separate Ofsted registration.

    It might be run by the school or through an external provider that operates from the school site.

    Why is the Department for Education (DfE) providing grant funding?

    The grant funding for school-based nurseries is about increasing access, supporting disadvantaged families, making best use of school resources, and ensuring more children benefit from high-quality early education—especially where it’s needed most.

    Is your school eligible to apply?

    • Are you a state-funded nursery, infant or primary school?
    • Will you create or expand a school-based nursery? Or will you invite a PVI provider onto the school site to deliver in partnership with the school?
    • Will the project meet the local need for childcare provision?
    • Has the relevant freehold landowner (such as a local authority, foundation, trust or relevant religious body) has been consulted ahead of completing the application for capital funding to support SBN provision, and the freehold landowner is content with the use of their land for nursery provision, and consents to any necessary capital works (where necessary)?

    If YES, you must complete the school based nurseries proposal form. Send the form to SBN@devon.gov.uk by November 6.

    By completing this form, you are meeting the criterion to consult with Devon County Council Early Years and School Place Planning Leads.

    If your project does not meet the eligibility criteria but you are interested in opening a nursery or expanding an existing nursery, you should register your interest through the online application service.

  • The application process

    Key steps in the application process (2025–2026):

    1. Read the Guidance:

    2. Check your eligibility:

    • Ensure your school meets all eligibility criteria.
    • Secure support from Devon County Council using School based nursery proposal – LA consultation form and return it no later than 6 November 2025 to SBN@devon.gov.uk
    • Devon County Council cannot consider applications sent after this date.
    • Obtain consent from your landlord or freehold landowner if necessary.

    If you are not supported by DCC you will not be successful with an application. 

    3. Prepare your application:

    • Before 1 December you must register for a DfE sign in account to access online application for grant queries service.
    • 4 December is the deadline for clarifying questions about applications via the customer help portal
      Use the template application form to gather all necessary information and supporting documents before starting the online application.
    • Prepare evidence of local need, project plans, costs, and how the nursery will support disadvantaged families.

    4. Submit online:

    • The online application portal closes at 5pm on 11 December 2025. 
    • Applications must be submitted through the official online application portal
    • Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

    5. Assessment:

    • Applications are assessed against published criteria Information for applicants
    • December 2025 – March 2026 compliance checks, evaluation, moderation and quality assurance checks.
    • April 2026 applicants notified of outcome.
    • September 2026 projects aim to be operational.
    • September 2027 grant must be spent, or it will be clawed back.
  • Preparing to apply

    You must complete and send the school based nurseries proposal form to SBN@devon.gov.uk by November 6 to be able to demonstrate to the DfE that you have support from Devon County Council (DCC).

    In addition to the eligibility criteria, the DfE may score applications against the points below:

    • Consult staff, families, other schools and early years providers and the community about the proposal. A summary of consultation and responses (if applicable) needs to be submitted.
    • Ensure the project is deliverable with the grant requested, or in combination with additional funding sources from elsewhere.
    • Give a project overview, submit floor plans and scope of work and photographs.
    • Demonstrate the project represents value for money, submit a cost plan or assessed competitive quotation.
    • Describe your approach to early years education.
    • Have considered how you will manage and sustain the provision and be able to describe this.

    See page 19 School-Based Nurseries Capital Grant 2024 to 2025: information for applicants for full information.

    If your proposal is approved by DCC, you can start the application.

    You may opt to complete the Template application form or Apply for a school-based nurseries capital grant online through application portal.

    If your proposal is not approved by DCC, you will receive a written explanation of the reason why it is not supported.

  • Considerations for applicants

    Why are you applying?

    • Have you consulted an identified a need for the places?
    • Are you oversubscribed?
    • Are parents asking for different provision than is available?
    • Have governors/trustees received ‘Rights to Request’ from parents to create childcare?
    • Does data show a need for places?
    • Have you got spare capacity within the school?
    • Are school numbers in decline?
    • Does the Local Plan identify housing developments?
    • Are you on a travel to work route and can attract parents who are passing the school?
    • How does the proposal fit within the schools development plan?

    What services are you proposing to offer?

    • Most of Devon needs more places for babies.
    • Demand is for all year-round provision.
    • Will you take under 2 year olds, 2 year olds and/or three and four year olds?
    • Can you create more places?
    • Can you open for longer hours and more weeks?
    • Will the early years provision grow out of/ support and help sustain wraparound and holiday childcare for primary children?
    • Will you work with other providers to ensure all the hours local families need are available within the community through a collaborative approach to delivery?

    Where will the early years places be accommodated?

    • Have you identified space in the school for the nursery places?
    • Have you thought about the outside space as well as inside?
    • Do you need to extend the school building?
    • Will it need to be repurposed?
    • Will the provision be off the school site?
    • What impact will the project have on the rest of the school?

    Who is involved with the proposal?

    • Are all the right people involved?
    • Have governors and Trustees approved the proposal?
    • Is the early years team developing a vision for the new places?
    • Do you need to call in support from elsewhere? (support from the locality teams is available)
    • Does the Diocese need to be consulted?
    • Can what you are proposing be delivered – has a surveyor or building professional seen the proposal?
    • Has the landowner given their consent for the project (if applicable)?

    When?

    • When will the new places be available?
    • When can the project begin?
    • Is that achievable?
    • How does the timing relate to the demand?

    How will the service be delivered?

    • Will the age range be extended?
    • Will a governor run preschool or nursery be set up?
    • Will a trading arm/subsidiary company be set up?
    • Will a provider be invited onto the school site?
    • Will it be part of a Foundation Stage Unit where reception (and Y1?) are integrated with nursery children?
    • Who will have responsibility for the provision?
    • What staff are required? Will you need to recruit?

    How much will the project cost?

    • The grant is for up to £150 000.
    • Do you know how much the proposal will cost to deliver?
    • Have you factored in everything?
    • Have you determined whether the size and number of places proposed will fit into a sustainable staffing model?
    • Can you contribute other funds to the project?
    • Is the proposal part of a larger phased project?
  • Information, guidance and support

    From the DfE:

    About Ofsted registration:

    Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide support on registration requirements and processes. 

    As a general rule, if a school takes children under the age of two, they must have a new Ofsted registration for that service.

    About early years funding for under fives:

    Contacts:

    All correspondence with DCC must be through SBN@devon.gov.uk

    You can submit an enquiry to the DfE through the customer services portal

    Once DCC approval has been given, schools may benefit from the following support:

    • Early Years and Childcare Advisers (EYCAS) will support schools to register with Ofsted. Please note that we are part way through a redesign; job titles and areas the team cover may change. This webpage will be updated in due course to reflect any changes.
    • Maintained schools may be required to complete a financial and business plan. Please contact your Schools Finance Officer and EYCAS.

    •  


Top
Devon County Council
Devon County Council, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, Devon EX2 4QD
Our contact numbers