DfE review: School-based nurseries boost admissions but highlight workforce pressures

The Department for Education has published initial findings from its review of school-based nurseries (SBNs), revealing important lessons for local authorities considering expansion of early years provision. The research highlights both the potential admissions benefits for primary schools facing declining rolls and significant workforce challenges affecting the sector. One key learning identifies that opening nurseries on school sites can provide a vital boost to dwindling primary school admissions, creating a pipeline of pupils from early years through to reception. However, the review also flags concerns around staffing, with settings increasingly turning to agency workers to fill persistent workforce gaps rather than employing permanent staff. These findings from the first phase of SBN funding will inform future planning for early years provision, particularly as local authorities work to balance the need for accessible childcare with the practical challenges of recruitment and retention in the early years workforce.