Minister for Early Years Education (): Early education is one of
the most powerful drivers of a child's future life chances. The
earliest years shape children's development, confidence and
wellbeing, and we know that those who start school already behind
their peers face a much harder journey to catch up. That is why
I'm proud this government is putting its focus firmly where it
belongs: on the early years.
Through our Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life
strategy, we committed to expanding access to high‑quality early
education across the country. We are ensuring a record proportion
of children reach a good level of development by the end of
Reception year and we're building on Labour's legacy of Sure
Start with our Best Start Family Hubs. We have already raised
Early Years Pupil Premium to its highest level ever and are
transforming SEND support for under-fives. We have also
significantly expanded access to early education, with savings of
up to £8000 on average for eligible parents accessing their full
childcare entitlement and, importantly, helping every child get
ready for school. Today we are further delivering on that
promise—supporting families, strengthening local provision, and
ensuring every child has the best possible start in life.
Since we launched the School-Based Nursery programme last year,
214 nurseries have already opened, creating more than 5,000 new
childcare places. I want to recognise the headteachers, early
years professionals, and wider school staff who have worked with
such determination to bring these projects to life in under a
year. Their work is already making a difference to families whose
children now have access to high‑quality early learning in their
local communities and they represent a vital part of our early
education sector. Providers already give parents the flexibility
to choose what best suits their family needs and this programme
builds on this by increasing provision and choice, seeking to
draw on the rich expertise found across Maintained Nursery
Schools, childminders, private and voluntary providers, and
primary schools.
Today, I am pleased to confirm the next step in this mission. We
are investing £45 million to support 331 additional schools to
establish or grow their nurseries—creating more than 6,000
further places. More than a third of these new places will be in
the most disadvantaged areas, ensuring support reaches the
children who stand to benefit the most. Children from low‑income
families gain particularly strongly from high‑quality early
education, which has been shown to improve outcomes throughout
their school years.
I am especially pleased that 20 maintained nursery schools are
included in this second phase. Maintained nursery schools have an
exceptional track record in supporting disadvantaged children and
those with special educational needs, and this investment will
enable them to expand that vital work.
Looking ahead, Phase 3 of the programme will go even further.
Local authorities will lead multi‑year proposals backed by up to
£325 million of additional investment. They know their local
communities best, and this long‑term approach will give them the
tools they need to plan strategically for sufficiency, inclusion,
and quality.
For the first time, Best Start Family Hubs will be able to
receive funding to create or expand a nursery. This presents
fresh opportunities to bring early education together with wider
family support, health services and SEND provision in a single,
joined‑up offer for families. It will also support new
partnerships with early years providers across the private,
voluntary, and maintained sectors.
We know that school-based nurseries play a central role in
inclusion. They care for proportionally more young children with
special educational needs, and the funding confirmed today will
help strengthen that role—ensuring children with SEND receive
timely, high‑quality support from the outset.
Across every part of this work—whether expanding school-based
nurseries, investing in maintained nursery schools, or linking
childcare with Best Start Family Hubs—our mission is the same: to
build a system that delivers the right support, in the right
place, at the right time.
We are making sustained, significant investment in the early
years so that all provider types can work together to deliver for
families. Strengthening local sufficiency. Driving up quality.
Ensuring parents can access provision that truly meets their
needs.
Taken together, these actions form a single, coherent ambition:
to give every child the very best possible start in life.
