Seven school-based nurseries across the West of England are set to be part of the government’s new national roll-out, welcomed by new Mayor Helen Godwin. In the West, the following schools are set to become home to (five) new and (two) expanded nurseries from September:
•Avanti Gardens School, Fishponds
•Christ Church Hanham CofE Primary School, Hanham
•Henbury Court Academy, Henbury
•Raysfield Primary School, Chipping Sodbury
•St Barnabas Church of England Primary School, Warmley
•St John’s Church of England School, Keynsham
•The Tynings Primary School, Staple Hill
4,000 new nursery places are expected from September, with a further £370 million of funding announced last month to support the future of the programme with another phase due to launch in the autumn. Thanks to efforts of school and early years leaders, these new school-based nurseries and thousands more throughout the sector are set to be available in time for working parents to take up the 30 government-funded hours of provision, saving them up to £7,500 on average each year.
The announcement from the Department for Education shortly followed news that two million meals have already been served at free breakfast clubs in the initiative’s first school term. This includes St Michael’s Junior School in Twerton, Bath, which Helen visited with Prime Minister Keir Starmer a few months ago.
As well St Michael’s in Twerton, and Worle Village Primary School in neighbouring North Somerset, the following schools are also part of the Breakfast Club Early Adopter Schools scheme include:
•Briarwood School, Fishponds
•Chester Park Junior School, Fishponds
•Christ Church Hanham CofE Primary School, Hanham
•Nova Primary School, Shirehampton
•Oasis Academy New Oak, Hengrove
•Peasedown St John Primary School, Peasedown St John
•Summerhill Academy, St George
•St Anne’s Church of England Primary School, Oldland Common
This milestone follows recent news that thousands of children in the region will be completely lifted out of poverty, with even more set to get free school meals, from the 2026 school years thanks to government changes also welcomed by the new Mayor.
Helen Godwin, the new Mayor of the West of England, said:
“I visited a free breakfast club at a primary school in Bath with the Prime Minister only weeks ago, as they started to be rolled out. We saw the impact of this extra meal and free childcare for children and families. That more than two million free breakfasts have been served at these breakfast clubs, including at ten primary schools in our part of the world, is making a real difference in our region and beyond.
“The first 4,000 new nursery places set to be taken up from September – including at seven schools here in the West – is welcome progress towards making sure every child gets the best possible start in life. I will continue to work closely with the government and councils to deliver change that people in our part of the world can see and feel.”
Announcing the 4,000 new nursery places expected from September, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:
“Giving every child the best start in life is my number one priority, and making sure hard-working parents are able to benefit from this rollout is a promise made, and promise kept.
“Every corner of the early years sector has a vital role to play, and the progress made so far, in the face of an enormous inherited delivery challenge, is testament to their dedication to children and families up and down the country.
“This September is only the beginning. This government has a clear Plan for Change to get tens of thousands more children school ready each year so that every child, from any background, gets the opportunities they need to get on in life.”
Next year, the government will work with the sector to go further and faster, increasing funding to over £9 billion, building on £75 million already delivered to help providers grow places, and a record uplift to the Early Years Pupil Premium.
