MORE children in Harlow will get access to childcare close to home, as Labour announces funding to open a Best Start school-based nursery.

In the latest drive by Labour to bear down on the cost of living, thousands more parents will save up to £8,000 a year as the government expands childcare to over 300 more schools from September.

School-based nurseries are already providing a lifeline for families. Combined with Labour’s 30 hours of funded childcare, they are cutting childcare costs in half for working families, making the school run simpler with fewer drop offs during busy mornings, and helping parents return to work.   

Labour has revealed a further 331 schools across the country have been successful in applying for a share of £45 million funding to build or expand nurseries on their site.

The new Best Start nurseries will create over 6,000 more childcare places, on top of the up to 7,000 already being delivered from the first phase of the programme. 

The announcement follows a report published last week showing Labour’s childcare reforms have halved costs for eligible working parents since 2024.

New figures published today show over a million parents now use Labour’s government-funded childcare offer – putting up to £8,000 a year back into family budgets.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“As a parent, I know how hard it can be to juggle work and family life, especially in those early days where time is precious and sleep is short.

“School-based nurseries are already driving a seismic shift in how childcare supports families. Now we’re going even further to build on what works with over 300 new nurseries – cutting childcare costs, simplifying the school run, and helping parents at a time when household budgets are under real pressure.

“This is about targeting support where it’s needed most, easing the cost of living and giving every child the best start in life.”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

“Too many families still struggle to find affordable childcare close to home, making it harder for parents to balance work and family life.

“School-based nurseries are already helping fill those gaps in communities where childcare is hardest to find, giving children the strong start they deserve and helping parents access childcare close to home.

“By expanding these nurseries further and targeting them at the areas that need them most, we are making sure more families can benefit from quality early education while putting practical support in place to help with the cost of living.

“For too long, where a child grows up has shaped what they go on to achieve. This government was elected to change that – starting with giving every child the best start in life and making sure every family can actually access the childcare they need, wherever they live.”

MP for Harlow Chris Vince said:

“The cost of living for families in Harlow is at the forefront of my mind as your MP. That’s why the news that childcare costs have halved under Labour is so welcome.

“There’s more we can do to make childcare more accessible and affordable. That’s why I wrote to local schools, encouraging them to join the Best Start scheme and open up new nurseries.

“Today, we’re seeing the benefits of a Labour MP working with a Labour government, to back our schools with funding, back our families with support and give children growing up in Harlow the best start in life.”

Best Start school-based nurseries add to the vibrant childcare market, helping parents to balance work and family life, reducing the need for multiple drop-offs and pick-ups and cutting travel time for busy families.

St James’ Headteacher, Casey Cox said: 

“We are absolutely delighted that St James’ has been awarded this funding to establish a school‑based nursery.

This investment will allow us to create a high‑quality early years environment that truly meets the needs of our community.

The transformation of the old school house into a dedicated nursery space is an exciting step forward for our families, and it will make a meaningful difference to children at the very start of their educational journey.

“We are grateful for the support that has enabled this project to move ahead, and we are looking forward to bringing this vision to life for the Harlow community.”

New polling shows parents strongly value the convenience of school-based nurseries. More than a third (37%) say being able to drop multiple children at the same location is a key benefit, and nearly six in ten (59%) say they help prepare for the school transition.

This rollout forms part of Labour’s wider programme to support families with the cost of living.

Alongside new nursery places, families can also benefit from 30 hours funded childcare for eligible working parents, free breakfast clubs saving families up to £450 a year and caps on branded school uniform costs.

Together, these measures could save families in [constituency] with children of different ages up to £8,500 a year.