Oldham schools 'delighted' to secure funding for expansion of nursery places

Five primary schools in Oldham are set to expand their nursery provision after securing government funding through the School-Based Nursery Capital Grant. Theresa's RC Primary, Beever Primary, South Failsworth Community Primary, Rushcroft Primary, and St John's Church of England Primary will all create new nursery places from September 2027.

The funding aims to help more parents return to work by increasing access to early years education. Headteachers from the schools have expressed their delight at being selected for the scheme, which will allow them to expand existing nursery facilities and welcome more children into their communities.

Theresa's RC Primary, headteacher Linda McCombe said the grant will enable more children to benefit from their Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) partner school status. Beever Primary's Nicola Edwards described it as 'an exciting step forward for our community,' emphasizing their commitment to giving every child the strongest start possible.

The expansion comes as part of a wider government initiative to increase nursery places across the country, with Oldham schools among those selected to benefit.

The new nursery places will strengthen partnerships between schools, parents, and the wider community, creating more opportunities for children to learn, grow, and thrive in their early years. Parents in these areas can expect increased availability of 30-hour extended nursery placements from September 2027.