Overview

• Schools will be invited this month to bid for up to £150,000 each from the £45 million fund, with priority for those serving disadvantaged communities.
• The new round builds on an initial phase that funded 300 school nurseries and created about 4,000 places, with 189 opening this month.
• Early years teachers working in disadvantaged areas will be offered a £4,500 payment to help recruit staff for new and expanded settings.
• From September 1, eligible working parents in England can access 30 hours a week of funded childcare for children older than nine months.
• The NDNA reports around 70% of nurseries are not at full capacity due to an average of four vacancies per setting, and NFER warns current staffing growth may not be sustained.