Five REAch2 Schools Secure Government Funding to Expand Nursery Places
REAch2 Academy Trust is proud to announce that five of our schools have successfully secured funding through the Department for Education’s School-Based Nursery Grant, as part of a national initiative to expand early years education. These grants will enable our schools to open new nurseries or expand existing provision, ensuring more children can access high-quality early education in a familiar school setting.
The following REAch2 schools will benefit from this investment:
- Garden City Academy – 15 new full-time equivalent (FTE) places for 2-year-olds
- White Meadows Primary Academy – 8 additional FTE places for 2-year-olds
- Brampton Primary Academy – 30 FTE places for 3- and 4-year-olds
- Springhill Primary Academy – 8 additional FTE places for 3- and 4-year-olds
- Heath Hayes Primary Academy – 30 additional FTE places for 3- and 4-year-olds
These new and expanded nursery settings will open from September 2025, providing much-needed places for families and strengthening the link between early education and primary school.
This announcement is part of a nationwide expansion of school-based nurseries, with the DfE approving the first 300 school-based nurseries, set to provide up to 4,000 places by September. This investment delivers on the government’s commitment to improving early years education, ensuring more children start school ready to learn.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson reinforced the importance of this initiative, stating:
“Delivering on our promise of a better early years system is my top priority, which is why we’ve more than doubled our investment in this first phase so thousands more children can benefit from high-quality early education from this September.”
Research continues to show that early education is vital for children’s development and school readiness, particularly for those who may need extra support. School-based nurseries also provide more inclusive settings, ensuring children with special educational needs have access to high-quality early learning opportunities.
Early Education Minister Visits Garden City Academy
To mark the launch of the School-Based Nursery Programme, Early Education Minister Stephen Morgan MP visited Garden City Academy, one of the first primary schools to receive funding under this initiative.
During his visit, the Minister saw firsthand how the school will expand its nursery provision in September 2025, creating 15 full-time equivalent places for 2-year-olds. He emphasised the importance of embedding early years provision within primary schools, stating:
“Garden City Academy is a perfect example of what our School-Based Nursery programme is all about—creating high-quality early years places in trusted school settings, right at the heart of their communities.
The expanded nursery at Garden City Academy will not only support local families—it’s part of a major national effort to expand access to early education and give every child the best start in life.”
REAch2’s Commitment to Early Years Education
At REAch2, we are committed to ensuring that every child has access to a strong foundation in their early years. Cathie Paine, CEO of REAch2, shared her enthusiasm for the initiative:
“We are delighted to be expanding our nursery provision, ensuring more children can benefit from high-quality early education in a nurturing environment.
Our ethos is built around giving children the best start possible, supporting their development through engaging activities, experienced staff, and a focus on holistic growth.
This initiative reflects our community’s shared belief in the importance of early education, and we are proud to partner with families to create a foundation for lifelong learning.”
What’s Next?
All five of the REAch2 nurseries included in this expansion are scheduled to open from September 2025. The Trust is also preparing for a potential second wave of applications, which could allow even more schools to benefit from this initiative.
By growing our nursery provision, we are not just increasing access to early education, we are ensuring that more children enter Reception with the confidence, skills, and readiness to thrive.
