More children in Staffordshire are set to benefit from nursery places close to home after Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet agreed to take part in a national programme to expand school-based nursery provision across the county.
Cabinet has approved the authority’s participation in the Department for Education’s School-based Nursery Capital Grant programme for 2027 to 2030.
The programme is designed to create additional early years places in areas where they are needed most, particularly in communities where families may face greater challenges and where access to good quality early education can have the biggest impact.
The latest phase of the national programme includes £325 million of government funding, and will run over three years. For the first time, local authorities will lead the process by submitting applications to the Department for Education on behalf of interested schools and academies.
Janet Higgins, Cabinet Member for Education and SEND at Staffordshire County Council, said:
“Every child deserves the best possible start in life, and that begins with access to good quality early education close to home.
“This programme gives us a real opportunity to create more nursery places in the parts of Staffordshire where they are needed most, helping more families access high-quality early education close to home.
“Cabinet’s decision means we can now move forward with schools and early years providers to develop proposals that will help meet local need and make a real difference for families.
“As a former teacher, I know how important those early years are. Good early education can make a lasting difference to a child’s confidence, development and readiness for school. By working closely with schools and our partners, we can give more children the best possible start in life, helping them learn, play and thrive in safe, nurturing environments from the very beginning.”
Following Cabinet’s approval, the council will work with schools, academies and Best Start Family Hubs to identify suitable projects and develop applications for funding. Projects could include creating new nursery classes within primary schools, expanding existing nursery provision, or developing nursery units led by school governors.
Schools and academies have been invited to develop expressions of interest, with applications expected to be reviewed and submitted to the Department for Education later in 2026. The first funding payments are expected from summer 2027, with projects delivered through to 2030.
The decision means the county council can now support interested schools and academies to bring forward proposals for new or expanded nursery provision in the areas where places are most needed.
