Government Extends £75m Funding For Early Years Education

The government has announced a series of reforms in early years education in England, which were first introduced as part of the Covid recovery programme. The new announcements are in addition to the expansion of the current nursery provision, which will create extra nursery places for children over the age of nine months.

For the first time from September 2025, the parents of these children will be able to access 30 hours of government funded childcare. This will help more parents of young children back into the workplace, enabling them to boost their finances and support the economy.

As part of this process, the government has allocated a funding pot of £15m to allow state-funded primary schools to bid for grants of up £150,000 each for creating extra childcare facilities. The first round of funding has already taken place, but the second round of funding is expected to open for bids within the next few months.

For schools without the option to create extra nursery facilities within their premises, portable modular buildings are an excellent way to expand quickly and cost-effectively. Modular buildings are already widely used to create extra classrooms in many schools, whether for a temporary solution or as a permanent fixture.

Why modular buildings are an excellent choice for educational facilities

There are many reasons why modular buildings are a popular choice for nurseries and classrooms.

Compared to traditional methods of construction, modular buildings take a fraction of the time to put in place. This makes them an ideal solution for primary schools who are looking to get new nursery facilities in place by the 2025/26 academic year. They are also much more cost effective, and can easily be adapted to a wide range of purposes.

The new funding announcements

As previously mentioned, In February 2025, the government has announced further plans to expand early childhood education. Investment in early years has increased to £8 billion over the year, with a dedicated £75m expansion grant. This will be allocated to local authorities, who can use it to invest in further provision of high-quality education settings.

The government is also extending funding for the Stronger Practice Hubs, which aim to support early years settings in England, Nursery World reports. These are already established across 18 regional hubs in England to meet the needs of under-5s childcare and education.

Furthermore, the DfE is also expanding the Maths Champion Programme, which will train more than 800 maths champions in nurseries, nursery schools and preschools.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Giving every child the best start in life is my top priority, and integral to our mission to ensure tens of thousands more children are school ready every year.”

“That’s why despite the inherited challenges we face, we are pressing ahead with the investment and leadership needed to support families and make sure that every child, regardless of background, can access the high-quality early education they deserve.”

Gill Holden, early childhood programme lead at the National Children’s Bureau, said, ‘Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs, like the one visited by the Education Secretary, are creating effective networks of regional early years providers, settings and childminders, that learn from each other through peer support to improve outcomes for children.’

‘The Hubs have enthusiastically embraced an evidence-based approach to tailoring support to meet the needs of under-5s in their areas. Based on a sound understanding of what works, the support these networks provide to the sector is vital for the development of young children so they can enjoy the best possible start in life.’

If you would like any further information about choosing the most suitable portable building for school or nursery expansion, please contact one of our team today.