Staffordshire County Council's Cabinet has approved the authority's participation in the Department for Education's School-based Nursery Capital Grant programme, paving the way for more nursery places in communities across the county.
The national programme includes £325 million of government funding and will run from 2027 to 2030. It 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.
How the programme works
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. Staffordshire County Council will now 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.
What happens next
Schools and academies have been invited to develop expressions of interest. Applications are 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.
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."