Labour MP Preet Gill has welcomed government funding for two new school-based nurseries in Quinton, saying the investment will help families with childcare costs and give more children the best possible start in life.
The Birmingham Edgbaston MP announced that Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School and Four Dwellings Primary School have secured funding for new Best Start nursery provision, with the first children expected to take up places from September.
The investment forms part of the Labour Government’s wider expansion of school-based nursery provision. According to Gill, 331 schools across England are sharing £45 million of funding to create or expand nurseries, providing more than 6,000 additional childcare places.
Welcoming the announcement, Gill said:
“The cost of living is a real concern for families across Edgbaston, and childcare is one of the biggest pressures.
“I’ve been working to increase local nursery provision, so it’s fantastic to see schools in Quinton secure this funding.
“This will make a real difference – helping parents balance work and family life, while giving children the best possible start.”
In a post announcing the funding, the Labour MP said she was “so pleased” to have secured support for the two new school-based nurseries.
The new provision is intended to increase the number of nursery places available locally while making childcare more convenient for parents, including families with older children attending the same schools.
The Government says school-based nurseries can help address gaps in childcare provision by making use of school sites and providing early-years education closer to where families live. Official guidance on establishing and expanding school-based nurseries was updated by the Department for Education in May.
Gill also highlighted the Government’s wider childcare offer, including 30 hours of funded childcare for eligible working parents. More than one million parents are now using funded childcare, with eligible families potentially saving thousands of pounds each year.
The Birmingham Edgbaston MP said the two Quinton nurseries would mean more local places, simpler school runs for some families and greater opportunities for parents who want to return to work.
The investment comes as Labour continues to put early-years provision at the centre of its efforts to support working families and improve opportunities for children.
Gill said the new places would help ensure families in her constituency can access affordable childcare closer to home, while giving children a strong start before they enter primary education.
The first children are expected to begin attending the new nursery provision in September 2026.
