This School-Based Nursery Grant Case Study explores how the Quest Trust has transformed Early Years provision through targeted investment and strategic leadership. Supported by the Department for Education’s (DfE) School-Based Nursery Grant, the Quest Trust recently relocated their 2–3 provision to enable the expansion of their 0–2 setting. Their 2–3 provision has expanded as part of the DfE’s School-Based Nursery Grant. In addition, one of the 3–4 school-based settings has been extended, and a brand-new 3–4 setting has been developed to meet growing community needs.
A Unified Approach to Early Years
At the heart of the Trust’s Early Years vision are Kate Eastwood, Director of Early Years, and Nichola Crank, Area Manager for PlayPals. Together, they lead a close-knit team spanning one nursery for 3-4-year-olds and four reception classes across the Primary Schools. Their childcare provision – PlayPals – includes a 0–2 setting, a 2–3 setting, and two school-based 3–4 settings, working in harmony to provide high-quality learning, curriculum, and experiences.
Scaling Provision with Purpose
With a strong focus on growth and excellence, the Trust has recently made exciting changes to its early years provision. The 2-3-year-old provision has moved to a new location, making room for the expansion of the 0-2-year-old setting. Thanks to support from the DfE School-Based Nursery Grant, the 2-3 provision has also been expanded.
To meet the increasing needs of local families, one of the existing 3-4-year-old school-based nurseries has also been extended, and a brand-new 3-4-year-old setting has been opened – creating even more high-quality early learning opportunities for our community.
Partnering with Early Excellence
To support this exciting phase of development, the Trust partnered with Early Excellence, selecting complete classroom packages designed to promote a clear progression of knowledge and skills from age 2 to 5.
“We chose Early Excellence because we wanted resources that had earned their place – resources that would support purposeful play and high-quality learning,” explained Kate Eastwood.
The decision to invest their School-Based Nursery Grant in a consistent suite of classroom resources across all rooms was driven by the desire for a seamless transition for children as they move between settings.
A Delivery Day to Remember
The ordering and delivery process was a highlight for the team. From start to finish, Early Excellence offered outstanding support and clear communication..
“It honestly felt like Christmas Day,” said Nichola Crank. “The delivery team were fantastic – assembling furniture and ensuring every box was labelled made setting up easy and efficient.”
Practitioners were able to draw inspiration from example room layouts provided on the Early Excellence website, enabling rapid transformation of each space.
Maximising Impact with the School-Based Nursery Grant
The newly developed 2-3yrs provision is already making a significant impact. Practitioners have observed increased pupil engagement, richer play experiences, and a learning environment that nurtures independence, curiosity, and deeper learning.
“The environment encourages exploration and allows children to revisit and embed their learning,” shared Kate.
The Trust were delighted to receive subsequent orders for the two new 3-4yrs settings, confident in the continued support and quality offered by Early Excellence.
A School-Based Nursery Grant Case Study in Action
“We wholeheartedly recommend Early Excellence. Their expertise, commitment to progression, and high-quality resources have made a real difference across our Early Years provision,” said Nichola.
Quest Trust’s success demonstrates the impact that vision, leadership, and collaboration can have -especially when supported by initiatives such as the DfE’s School-Based Nursery Grant.
Learn more about the DfE’s School-Based Nursery Grant initiative or explore complete Nursery Classrooms as a solution for your School-based Nursery.
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