Room to Grow: School-based Nursery Places and the Disadvantage Gap

This project will investigate the implementation, challenges, and effectiveness of school-based nursery provision in improving access to high quality early childhood education and childcare.  

Why this project is important

The government has pledged £370m over four years to expand school-based nurseries, creating 100,000 new places for young children. This initiative seeks to address two critical priorities: increasing the number of nursery places available and improving the quality of early education and childcare. There is, however, little evidence about how to provide high quality early childhood education and care via school-based nurseries. 

The research team aims to fill this gap, considering particularly the extent to which school-based nurseries will be able to meet the needs of children from families facing disadvantage. 

What it will involve

The following research questions will be answered: 

• What does the existing evidence base say about the quality and effectiveness of school-based nursery provision? Does this differ for different groups? 

• For which age range is this provision most appropriate? 

• How prevalent is this provision already in the UK? What other countries use this model? 

• Beyond nurseries within schools, what relationships do schools currently have with local/feeder early years settings? 

• What learnings can we take from existing examples of successful relationships between schools and nurseries? 

• How well set-up are primary schools to host this provision? In which areas are the schools who could engage in further roll-out? What are the major obstacles government should consider? 
• How should government develop this policy going forward for a wider roll-out? 

The research will involve:   

• A rapid evidence assessment to identify existing knowledge, gaps, and policy implications related to school-based nurseries.  

• A comprehensive survey of 1,300 primary school senior leaders to collect quantitative and qualitative data on current practices, challenges, and opportunities for scaling up.   

• Selection and analysis of 10 case studies of good practice, focusing on schools with a high proportion of disadvantaged or SEND children.   

How it will make a difference

Findings will be shared with key stakeholders, including the Department for Education, parliamentarians, schools and early years providers, and advocacy groups. Dissemination activities will include meetings with stakeholders, a stakeholder roundtable event, and targeted engagement activities.