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Guidance

School-based nursery capital grant 2027 to 2030

Information for local authorities about the school-based nursery capital grant 2027 to 2030.

Applies to England

The school-based nursery (SBN) programme aims to help more families access early years provision, including those in disadvantaged areas.  

This is the third phase of the programme. It builds on the foundations of phases 1 and 2, and invites local authorities to develop multi-year funding proposals to deliver new and extended school-based nurseries between 2027 and 2030.  

Eligibility 

The SBN capital grant 2027 to 2030 can be used by local authorities to create or expand a school-based nursery in state-funded primary-phase schools, maintained nursery schools and on Best Start Family Hub sites.  

You can read the school-based nursery capital grant 2027 to 2030 guidance (PDF, 1.37 MB, 52 pages) for more information. 

This guidance also explains how proposals will be assessed and funding awarded.

You should also refer to the Establishing school-based nursery provision, which details the requirements and recommendations for expanding or opening new school-based nursery provision. 

Next steps

The online application service closed at 5pm on 30 September 2026.

We expect to communicate outcomes in Spring 2027.

Contact us 

We strongly encourage you to sign-up to receive updates of this page to stay informed of any new information.  

Find out the most appropriate way to get in touch by referring to the ‘Queries’ section in the grant guidance. This will depend on your organisation and the nature of your enquiry. 

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