DfE School Based Nurseries Capital Grant
DfE School Based Nurseries Capital Grant
It is IMPORTANT that you inform your Local Authority of your plans. Please use this short expression of interest form so we can make contact and discuss this further with you.
What is the school based nursery capital grant?
The School-Based Nursery Capital Grant is a one-time grant available for eligible state-funded primary-phase schools. Schools can bid for up to £150,000 of funding to use solely for capital expenditure, to convert or expand school-based nursery provision by using surplus space within a school building so that it is suitable for nursery provision.
The DfE will collaborate with schools, trusts, local authorities and religious authorities to ensure new or expanded SBNs are established where there is greatest need.
To qualify, your project must meet all the eligibility criteria within the application. This includes securing support from your local authority and obtaining consent from your landlord or relevant freehold landowner and gaining planning permission where necessary.
Key dates and deadlines
Phase 1 Launch - Opening date: 17 October 2024, 2:00PM
- Deadline for new applicants to register for a DfE sign in account, in order to submit an application: 12 December 2024
- DfE Closing date: 19 December 2024, 12:00pm (Midday)
- Applicants notified by DfE of outcome: Spring 2025
- Projects aim to be operational: September 2025
- Capital funding awarded by DfE must be spent by: 31 March 2027
Phase 2
If you don’t meet the criteria during phase 1 then we understand there may be future opportunities and we can work with you to understand your need. We must ensure that provision is in the right place and meets parents needs.
Grant application
When developing your bid, it is important to consider how the places created by the new provision will meet local demand.
DfE will evaluate applications that meet the eligibility criteria against the assessment criteria detailed in the School-based Nursery Capital Grant 2024 to 2025 guidance.
If you wish to apply but do not have a DfE sign-in account (required to access the online application service), you must request an account by 12 December 2024. Applications must be submitted through the online application service. https://customerhelpportal.education.gov.uk/
Maintained nursery schools and special schools cannot apply for this grant because they do not have spare space created by declining primary school rolls. They are however encouraged to register your interest with the DfE to open new nursery places in the future. This will help inform future development of the programme.
Maintained nursery schools, special schools and other schools that may not meet the DfE eligibility criteria, please complete this short form and a member of the Early Years team will be in contact to discuss your plans.
What can the grant be used for?
The grant cannot be used for the day-to-day operational costs of running an SBN.
You can apply for up to £150,000 of funding to be used solely for capital expenditure to repurpose surplus space in a primary-phase school building, so that it is suitable for nursery provision. This could include:
- conversion of a building within the school estate.
- renovations, refurbishments and refits of existing school space into nursery provision, including works required to meet any SEND requirements.
- upgrading or carrying out alterations to essential systems like heating, plumbing, fire alarm and electrical.
- purchasing new physical assets for the nursery (to be considered capital expenditure, the asset must bring an economic benefit and be able to be of sufficient value to be depreciated over more than one financial year, for example, computer equipment and furniture).
- improving outdoor spaces, such as playgrounds, or flow between indoor and outdoor space, where this is part of the nursery provision.
- project team Technical Advisor fees and survey costs.