School-Based Nursery Grant Support & Classroom Design
Supporting schools in planning, designing and delivering high-quality nursery environments using School-Based Nursery Capital Funding.
If your school has secured funding through the School-Based Nursery Capital Grant, the next challenge is to turn that funding into a high-quality nursery environment that delivers lasting impact.
With tight timelines, specific capital spending requirements and the pressure to create provision that meets both community needs and EYFS expectations, we recognise that careful planning is essential.
Early Excellence has successfully worked in partnership with schools and Multi-Academy Trusts in transforming School-Based Nursery Capital Funding into thoughtfully designed nursery classrooms, through complete solutions, bespoke indoor and outdoor environment planning, curriculum consultancy and funding-ready costing guidance. We are here to support you through each step of the process for Phase 2 and Phase 3.
Our expertise in School-Based Nursery expansion ensures that your capital funding translates into a robust, sustainable nursery environment that strengthens outcomes, increases capacity and delivers long-term value for your school community.
From initial cost planning and classroom design to high-quality resourcing and delivery, our team supports schools at every stage of their nursery expansion journey – ensuring that your provision provides the best possible start for your children.
Complete Nursery Classrooms start from £8,050 + VAT, with direct delivery and installation into your classroom or outdoor area.
Trusted by Multi-Academy Trusts and Schools Nationwide
We were delighted to work in partnership with many of the 300 schools who were awarded the funding for Phase 1 of the School-Based Nursery Capital Grant Funding. While some opted for the Complete Classroom Solutions, others chose to work with our expert Curriculum Team on a Bespoke Room Design or Outdoor Transformation.
We have spoken to just a few of the schools we worked with, to celebrate their success and ask them to share their story and top tips for other schools.
These case studies highlight what strategic planning, expert guidance and carefully curated classroom design can achieve as you turn capital funding into high quality, effective nursery provision.
Discover how a Trust, committed to growth and excellence, are scaling provision with purpose across all
of their nurseries.
Watch to see how working with a Curriculum Consultant transformed the pre-school room into a stunning nursery classroom to be proud of.
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Hear why an Early Excellence Host School looked to increase capacity to meet local demand, and about the impact it has already had.
Read more
Find out how the team transformed an underused room to finally realise their dream to offer nursery provision for their community
Read More
Explore how a Darlington Primary successfully used the funding to expand early years provision and support its local community.
Read More
Consider compelling feedback about the investment in a complete solution and find out about the impact on the children’s learning and development.
Read now
Delivering High-Quality School Nursery Environments
Whether you are looking to open new nursery provision or planning to expand your existing indoor and outdoor learning environments, then why not work in partnership with our experienced Curriculum Consultants who can support schools in a variety of ways.
- Rapidly transform your spaces with a Complete Nursery Classroom
- Commission tailored indoor classroom planning and design support
- Transform your Outdoor Nursery spaces with a bespoke environment plan
- Invest in Nursery furniture and resource solutions
Invest Your School-Based Nursery Capital Effectively
Partnering with Early Excellence to establish or develop your School-Based Nursery will ensure a strong pedagogical foundation and long-term impact on learning. Careful planning for the classroom layout, furniture and resources before purchasing decisions are made will enable you to translate you School Based Nursery Capital Funding into a cohesive, curriculum-led environment, rather than a collection of individual purchases. The curriculum consultant team will support you to create a space that:
- Makes the best use of the indoor and outdoor spaces
- Priorities high-quality areas of continuous provision to promote learning
- Provides open-ended, developmentally appropriate resources
- Facilitates Characteristics of Effective Learning and support Well-being and Involvement
- Aligns with best practice in early years pedagogy and meets EYFS expectations
- Delivers a high-quality nursery environment ready to support learning from day one
Whether transforming an underused classroom or developing a brand-new space, we will help you to establish engaging, purposeful indoor and outdoor spaces which makes the best use of your School-Based Nursery Capital Funding.
Arrange a free consultation with one of our expert curriculum consultants to discuss your options.
Phase 1 School-Based Nursery Capital Grant Success Stories
Hear directly from Headteachers and Trust Leaders about their School-Based Capital Nursery Grant journey.
Area Manager for PlayPals
Headteacher, Cecil Gowing Infant School
Deputy Headteacher, Minet Infant and Nursery School
EYFS Lead, Cecil Gowing Infant School
Speak to Our Head of School Services About Your School-Based Nursery Capital Funding
If you’ve secured School-Based Nursery Capital Funding, arrange a free initial consultation with Nikki Walters, Head of School Services.
Receive expert guidance on:
- Finding the right solution for you and your school
- Spending your capital funding compliantly
- Maximising impact within your budget and space
Frequently Asked Questions About School-Based Nursery Capital Funding
Can School-Based Nursery Capital Funding be used for furniture?
Yes. Capital funding can be used to purchase robust, long-term nursery furniture such as shelving, tables, seating & storage units. Careful planning is essential to ensure furniture choices support effective zoning and continuous provision, not just compliance.
A structured Room Plan can help ensure your furniture investment maximises space and learning impact.
Can the funding be used for nursery resources?
Funding can be used for substantial, long-lasting early years resources that form part of your continuous provision. Items should be considered capital assets rather than short-term consumables.
Can School-Based Nursery Capital Funding be used for outdoor nursery provision?
Yes. Outdoor classroom equipment, structured zoning, durable play resources and physical development equipment are eligible capital investments where they support nursery expansion. Outdoor areas benefit significantly from planned layout and integration with indoor provision to support free-flow learning.
Can the School-Based Nursery Grant be used for consultancy or training?
No — the School-Based Nursery Capital Grant) cannot be used for consultancy or training. It is strictly for capital expenditure to create or expand physical nursery provision, such as building works, refurbishments, equipment and other long-term assets directly linked to nursery spaces. Staffing costs, training, consultancy, professional development or other operational costs are not eligible under this grant.
How do we ensure our capital funding is spent compliantly?
Schools should refer to DfE grant conditions to ensure spending aligns with capital rules. Beyond compliance, effective room planning ensures funding translates into a structured, purposeful learning environment rather than a collection of individual purchases.
Working with experienced nursery environment specialists like Early Excellence can help you maximise both space and funding impact.
How much funding can schools receive?
Under Phase 2 of the programme, eligible schools could apply for up to £150,000 of capital funding to create or expand school-based nursery provision. With this level of investment, early planning is key to ensuring the environment is sustainable, practical and aligned with long-term growth.
What is Early Excellence’s commitment to sustainability?
At Early Excellence, our mission goes far beyond delivering high quality products and services. We are deeply committed to understanding and improving the broader impact of our work on the communities we serve, the environment we share, and the customers who place their trust in us.
You can explore more on our page dedicated to sustainability and environmental credentials