Devon families are set to benefit from dozens of new nursery places from September following government grants which will enable several primary schools to either build new nurseries or expand their existing facilities.
Brixington Primary School in Exmouth, Wolborough C of E Nursery and Primary School in Newton Abbot, Exwick Heights Primary in Exeter, Shaldon Primary in Teignmouth and Gulworthy Primary Academy in Tavistock will all receive awards from the Department for Education’s school-based nursery capital grant.
This capital funding will help them to improve or expand existing facilities allowing them to offer additional places for younger children on the school site.
Crucially it will allow school nurseries that don’t already do so to cater for 0-2 year-olds.
The funding will allow Gulworthy to add new toilets so they are able to accept younger children; in Shaldon a new purpose-built facility will be delivered.
This will allow the school to accept 0-4 year-olds from 8am to 6pm all year round.
And both Exwick and Brixington will look to remodel their existing facilities so they can take 2 year olds. Wolborough will be able to move their existing nursery within the school site and start taking 2 year olds all year round.
As of last week (May 12) all eligible working parents of children who will be 9 months old before September 1 2025 can apply to access up to 30 hours of funded childcare a week, saving them up to £7,500 a year per child.
Headteacher of Shaldon Primary School, Jenny Stewart, said:
“We are thrilled with the success of the funding bid. The move will not only enhance our early years provision but also support a smoother transition for children into primary school, creating a more cohesive learning journey from the very start. Integrating the pre-school directly within the school site will further enrich pupil learning and development. It will also allow us to expand our wraparound care and increase the intake and age range of children we can support.”