Labour reveals plans to convert 3,334 classrooms into school-based nurseries

Unveiling the plans, Labour leader Keir Starmer and shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said the party will convert 3,334 classrooms to accommodate 100,000 additional childcare places, focusing on ‘under-served’ areas and to meet anticipated additional demand from the expansion of the funded hours, which Labour has committed to delivering.

The new school-based nurseries, which would be paid for by revenue raised from ending tax breaks for private schools, could be run by schools themselves or local PVI providers. Labour estimates it will cost an average of £40,000 to retrofit individual classrooms into school-based nurseries.

The party says its plans will give children a better start to life, helping them to prepare for school. They will also improve the availability and quality of childcare for families in areas with severe shortages of available places, or childcare ‘deserts'.

The move follows the Party pushing through an amendment to the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act to enable local councils to deliver new childcare provision for their communities. 

Labour also wants to strengthen childcare regulation, working with Ofsted to ensure that the money government spends on childcare is driving the best outcomes for children and families.

Announcing Labour’s plans, Keir Starmer said, ‘Childcare is critical infrastructure. It’s vital for children’s opportunities, and essential for a stable economy. 

‘After 14 years of a Conservative government, too many children are starting school already behind, and too many parents are being held back from fulfilling their career ambitions.’

Bridget Phillipson, Labour’s shadow education secretary, added, ‘Families up and down the country are yearning for high-quality early years education but they are stuck on waiting lists, left paying over the odds for childcare and failing to secure the places and free hours they were pledged by the Tories, let down time and again by a Conservative government that makes promises that it cannot deliver. 

‘The evidence is clear: school-based nurseries deliver high quality education which enables children to achieve and thrive when they at primary school. 

‘The 3,300 new nurseries we announce today will be key to delivering Labour’s mission for half a million more children to hit the early learning goals by 2030, giving them the firm foundations from which to succeed.’