Unlock School Nursery Funding: Your Guide to the School-Based Nursery Capital Grant. 

What is the School-Based Nursery Capital Grant? 

If you are looking to improve your nursery provision, the School-Based Nursery Capital Grant is a straightforward way to secure funding. This one-off grant is available to eligible state-funded primary schools in England that already offer early education, like a reception class. It is designed to help schools convert surplus space within the building into dedicated nursery areas—no complicated processes, just a practical solution for expanding early years provision.  

Schools can apply for up to £150,000 to be used exclusively for capital projects, including things like refurbishing current early years spaces or purchasing essential equipment, such as indoor and outdoor furniture. Whether you are a headteacher or a school business manager, this could be the opportunity you have been looking for, and gls is here to guide you through the process and support you every step of the way.   

Key date to keep in mind: The closing date for the first wave of applications is 12:00 (midday) on 19th December 2024. 

Who is Eligible for the Grant? 

The School-Based Nursery Capital Grant is open to a range of schools: maintained schools, academies, and free schools. However, priority is given to schools in areas of disadvantage, where there is a clear need for additional nursery places. Schools must have the capacity to manage and deliver the proposed capital project, and the nursery must be part of the school’s core educational provision. 

Approved Uses for the Nursery Capital Grant 

This grant isn’t about covering day-to-day running costs—it is for capital improvements that directly impact early years spaces. Some of the eligible uses include: 

• Building new nursery classrooms or expanding existing ones to accommodate more children. 
• Refurbishing current nursery spaces to make them more suitable for early years education. 
• Purchasing essential equipment, such as indoor and outdoor furniture 

Essentially, it’s about improving the physical environment where young children learn, which can have a direct impact on their development. 

How Much Funding Can Schools Access? 

The Department for Education is open for grant applications of up to £150,000 from state-funded schools. The amount of funding available varies depending on the scope of the project and the specific needs of the school. In practical terms, this means that for schools with a clear and feasible plan, the grant can provide a substantial financial boost, easing the burden on your ever stretched budget. 

How to Apply for the Nursery Capital Grant 

Applying for the School-Based Nursery Capital Grant is straightforward, but it is important to ensure your school meets the necessary criteria. Here is how the process works: 

1. Check Eligibility – The grant is available to: 

• Maintained schools, academies, and free schools in England that provide nursery education. 
• New or expanding nursery provision: Schools that are either setting up a new nursery or significantly expanding an existing nursery provision are eligible. 
• Priority for schools in disadvantaged areas. Funding will be prioritised for schools that serve areas with higher levels of social disadvantage, where there is a clear need for more nursery places. 
• Nurseries that are:  
  • Embedded as part of a school where the nursery children are enrolled as pupils, nursery units which are governor run as a community facility in a maintained school.
  • Early years provision run by a private, voluntary, and independent (PVI) nursery leasing space on a school premises or operating on the school’s behalf.  
  • Nursery provision run by a childminder, or group of childminders, leasing space on a school premises  
  • Maintained nursery schools which are schools that only offer early education provision 

If your school ticks these boxes, you are good to go with your application. The grant is all about improving or creating nursery spaces where they are needed most, so it’s crucial to make sure your project matches the government’s priorities. A quick review of the guidelines will ensure you are on track. 

2. Prepare your proposal

Once you have confirmed your eligibility, the next step is to prepare a proposal. This should include:    

• A clear outline of the planned project. 
• Evidence of how the project will improve access to quality early years education, particularly in disadvantaged areas (if applicable). 
• A breakdown of costs, including refurbishing existing nursery spaces and purchasing essential equipment such as durable nursery furniture. To help with this, we have everything to meet the needs of early years spaces. Find out more on how gls can support you​

3. Submit your application

Submit your completed application through the online portal. The grant guidance provides detailed instructions for each step of the application process, ensuring that schools have all the information they need to submit a successful proposal.  

Register your interest or apply here:  

Why Schools Should Apply 

If you are considering whether this grant is worth your time, the answer is yes—especially if your school is looking to make tangible improvements to its nursery provision. Not only does this funding help to create a better learning environment for young children, but it also supports the broader goals of increasing access to high-quality early years education.  

The process is simple, the criteria are clear, and the benefits are direct. No unnecessary hurdles—just practical support for schools who want to get the job done. 

Final thoughts: the practical benefits of the school-based nursery capital grant 

The school-Based Nursery Capital Grant is a clear and straightforward opportunity for schools to improve their nursery facilities. It is about making investments that have long-term benefits for children and their education. By applying, you are taking a proactive step towards improving the quality of early years provision, all while receiving financial support that helps make it happen. 

At gls we know that creating a high-quality learning environment goes beyond just bricks and mortar, that’s why we have school-based nursery furniture collections and specialist help on hand to support you.  

Whether you need help with designing a new nursery room setting or looking for durable indoor or outdoor furniture built to last, if you need a nursery set up check list or want us to prepare quotes on your behalf, we have all the solutions you need to help with your proposal.  Find out more