Families in Stourbridge are set to benefit from a major expansion of school-based nurseries, helping parents balance work and family life while cutting childcare costs by up to £8,000 a year.

Three local schools — Brierley Hill Primary School, Netherton Park Nursery School and Rufford Primary School — will receive funding to open or expand Best Start school-based nurseries from September, creating more high-quality childcare places close to home.

This investment forms part of Labour’s wider plan to tackle the cost of living and improve early years provision. New research published last week shows that childcare costs for eligible working parents have halved since 2024, reversing two decades of rising costs and bringing prices back to 2005 levels.

Across the country, 331 schools have secured a share of £45 million in funding to build or expand nurseries, creating over 6,000 new places in addition to the 7,000 already delivered in the first phase of the programme.

Cat Eccles MP welcomed the announcement and the impact it will have on families in Stourbridge:

“I’m delighted that these schools have received this support, which will build on the excellent work they are already doing for children, families and carers in our community.

Investing in early years provision is key to ensuring every child has the best possible start, and it is wonderful to see this being strengthened locally.

Parents of young children in Stourbridge will be feeling the benefit of Labour’s childcare policies, both in their child’s development and in their pocket. With costs now halved, families are saving an average of £8,000 per child — a very welcome boost at a time when the cost of living remains a concern.”

School-based nurseries are already proving to be a lifeline for working families. Combined with Labour’s 30 hours of funded childcare, they simplify busy mornings by reducing multiple drop-offs, support children’s early development, and help parents return to work.

The new Best Start nurseries will expand access to affordable childcare in communities where provision is most needed, ensuring more families in Stourbridge can benefit from high-quality early education close to home.

Polling shows strong support for the approach, with 37% of parents highlighting the convenience of dropping multiple children at the same location, and 59% saying school-based nurseries help children prepare for the transition into primary school.

This rollout is part of a wider package of support for families, including funded childcare hours, free breakfast clubs saving up to £450 a year, and caps on branded school uniform costs — together saving some families up to £8,500 annually.

ENDS

Photo attached: Cat Eccles MP in an early years setting