DfE School Based Nursery Grants - Phase 3

School Based Nursery Grant Phase 3 – Expressions of Interest Invited (deadline 5pm Monday 1 June)

The latest phase of the Government’s School Based Nursery capital grant opportunity is now live. Phase 3 of the School‑based Nursery Capital Grant runs from 2027 to 2030 and represents a shift from school‑led bids to local‑authority‑led, multi‑year strategic proposals. Its purpose is to increase access to high‑quality early years places, particularly in areas of childcare sufficiency pressure and deprivation.

Oxfordshire County Council will work with schools and Academy Trusts to devise a bid to submit to the DfE in September 2026. The DfE will announce successful bids around April 2027. 

A Council SBN working group will review expressions of interest and work further in June and July with applicants which appear to best meet the key DfE and OCC criteria. 

Please complete the form:  Expression of Interest: School Based Nurseries Capital Grant Phase 3 – Fill in form no later than 5pm on Monday 1 June. We will let you know w/c 15 June if we wish to take forward your project for possible inclusion in the DfE bid

Key Criteria

• Based on a Primary or Maintained Nursery School site (can be in partnership with a private, voluntary or independent provider)
• Creates new and/or additional funded nursery places
• Provides new places in areas/age groups identified by OCC as a sufficiency concern (see Early Years and childcare grants | Oxfordshire County Council)
• Increases access to free nursery provision for vulnerable groups (e.g. SEND, 2YO  Early Learning ‘disadvantaged’ places)
• Does not create additional capacity which would jeopardise other early years provision in the area 
• Places must be capable of becoming operable between 2027 and 2030
• Value for money – basic cost per new place (match funding will assist with this) 
• Must work in partnership with any existing on site early years provision 
• Must have suitable surplus space/land to develop

All projects must comply with DfE’s Establishing School‑based Nursery Provision guidance: School-based Nursery Capital Grant 2027-2030: information for local authorities, March 2026

There is no limit to the number of projects that we can bid for or on the cost per project, however please be aware that the Council has limited capacity to support the detailed development of individual projects. Academy Schools should liaise with their MAT before completing the EOI.

Highest Early Years Sufficiency Concerns in Oxfordshire (2026

If you require any further information please e mail school.planning@oxfordshire.gov.uk with ‘SBN 3’ in the subject header. 

Early Years and childcare grants | Oxfordshire County Council