Thousands of families are one step closer to accessible, affordable and high-quality early years provision in their local area, as the first stage of the Labour’s plan to deliver 3,000 school-based nurseries began in October.

Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said primary schools can now apply for up to £150,000 of £15 million capital funding, with the first stage of the plan set to support up to 300
new or expanded nurseries across England. This comes as 321,462 additional children are now accessing 15 hours of government funded early education per week, since the Labour government delivered the second phase of the childcare rollout last month.

The work forms part of Labour’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity, which will break the link between background and success – starting with giving every child the best start in life and resetting the relationship with the early years sector to boost life chances for children and work choices for parents.

The Secretary of State, Bridget Phillipson, has promised a new era of child-centred government and will work alongside the sector to deliver meaningful long-term reform of early
years, whilst building the places and workforce that are required for the next more challenging phase.