Lift Hazelwood Primary in Swindon is set to expand its nursery provision from September, creating 15 additional places for three-year-olds to help meet growing demand from local families.
The expansion follows investment from the Department for Education and Lift Schools, which will fund internal remodelling work over the summer to create additional nursery space ahead of the new academic year.
The West Swindon school already provides nursery places for two and three-year-olds and has seen demand rise steadily in recent years, with waiting lists now forming as more families seek places.
The additional capacity will enable more three-year-olds to join the nursery while also providing greater continuity for children already attending. More two-year-olds will be able to remain at the setting as they progress through the early years, benefiting from familiar staff, routines and friendships.
The school is currently inviting tenders for the building work, with improvements expected to be completed before pupils return in September.
Suzanne Lloyd, Principal of Lift Hazelwood Primary, said, “We are delighted to have secured this funding, which will allow us to create more nursery places and support even more families in our community.
“This expansion means we can build on the strong relationships we already have with families and ensure that more children can benefit from a settled, high-quality start to their education close to home.”
Karl Sampson, Regional Education Director for Lift Schools, said, “This investment at Lift Hazelwood is a great example of responding to local need. It will enable Lift Hazelwood to increase nursery capacity and ensure more children can access high-quality early education in a trusted setting, helping to build strong foundations for their learning journey.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson welcomed the continued growth of school-based nursery provision.
She said, “Our school-based nurseries are already helping fill the 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.”
The new places are expected to provide greater access to early years education for families across West Swindon while helping more children begin their school journey in a familiar and supportive environment.
