School-based Nursery Capital Grant

How Schools Can Make the Most of the School-Based Nursery Capital Grant 2025-26 

Another major opportunity has opened for state-funded primary-phase and maintained nursery schools in England: the School-based Nursery (SBN) Capital Grant 2025-26. Schools can apply for up to £150,000 capital funding to create or expand nurseries on school sites.

Key Details of the Grant

• Who’s eligible?
  Primary schools with a reception class, and maintained nursery schools, wanting to start or expand school-based nursery provision. Schools that already received phase 1 funding aren’t eligible for phase 2 but may be involved in phase 3.
• How much is available?
  Up to £150,000 per project, including non-recoverable VAT. Projects must result in a net increase in childcare places.
• Important dates
  Applications open 22 September 2025 and close at 5pm on 11 December 2025. Projects must be operational and providing the new nursery places by September 2027.
• Assessment criteria
  Applications are scored based on value for money, need in disadvantaged areas, ability to deliver, and how effectively the project uses school space or spare space. Local authority backing, landlord permissions, and meeting legal and Ofsted requirements are also crucial.

Challenges Schools Face

While the grant offers significant potential, planning, and execution bring challenges:

• Finding suitable space that can be repurposed without extensive structural work.
• Ensuring the project fits within the £150,000 limit while delivering impact.
• Navigating permissions (from landowners, local authorities, etc.) and regulatory requirements.
• Minimising disruption and ensuring the nursery is ready in time (by September 2027).

How Chequered Fox Can Make This Easier

At Chequered Fox, we specialise in helping schools succeed with exactly these kinds of capital projects. Here’s how we can support:

• Space planning & design: We work with your existing footprint to identify under-used areas, flexible layouts, and modular furniture solutions so that much of the transformation can happen without expensive building work.
• Furniture & resources sourcing: We offer a wide network of trusted suppliers and can source furniture, storage, and EYFS-appropriate resources that meet both grant requirements and quality standards. - Spend over £5,000 (exc. VAT) with us to qualify for £500 towards additional Chequered Fox resources.
• Budget-friendly options: Because of our supplier relationships and experience, we can help schools maximise what the grant money delivers—stretching every pound further.
• End-to-end support: From helping assess eligibility, gathering the right permissions, through to planning, delivery, and installation, our team can guide and support you through the process.

What Schools Should Do Next

1. Review the full grant guidance, paying close attention to eligibility, assessment criteria, and ineligible costs.
2. Conduct a quick audit of your school site to identify potential spaces for nursery expansion or creation.
3. Reach out early to your local authority and landowner to secure required permissions.
4. Contact Chequered Fox as soon as you start planning – we can provide tailored proposals, quotes, and help you submit a strong application.

If you’re looking at applying, or just considering whether your school might be eligible, get in touch with us at Chequered Fox—we’d be happy to help you explore the options and work out what could achieve the biggest impact with the capital grant funding.