I visited Nelson Infant School to see the construction of their new nursery building, due to open in February 2026.
The nursery is funded by the Government’s School‑Based Nurseries Capital Grant. In the first phase, £37 million is being invested in 300 schools across the country to open and expand nurseries. This will create up to 6,000 more nursery places for young children in schools like Nelson.
Headteacher Anna Caitlin told me about the school’s work to support children from diverse backgrounds and with varied needs. Over 10% of pupils have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) – a legal document that sets out the extra support a child needs for their education, health, and social development. More than 30 languages are spoken in the school.
Anna said the nursery is key to helping children socialise and learn early, and she expects to see real improvements in children’s development.
I spoke about how the Government’s fiscal rules allow increased capital spending on projects such as nurseries, but limit day‑to‑day spending. That includes critical costs like staff wages and heating. I said the Government must raise day‑to‑day spending so infant schools can provide for new pupils and meet the needs of the children they already teach.