Rt Hon Sir Julian Smith KCB CBE, Member of Parliament for Skipton and Ripon, has welcomed the Government’s announcement that Bentham Community Primary School and Brougham Street Nursery School have been selected for capital investment as part of the Phase 2 School-Based Nurseries Programme.
The funding, confirmed in a letter from Early Education Minister Olivia Bailey MP, forms part of a £45 million national investment to open or expand nurseries in 331 schools across England.
Julian said, “I am pleased that Bentham Community Primary School and Brougham Street Nursery School have been successful in securing investment through this programme. Expanded nursery places will give local families greater access to high‑quality early years provision and support children as they make the transition into primary school.
"I look forward to learning more about the positive difference this investment will make for families in Bentham, Skipton, and the surrounding communities.”
The School-Based Nurseries Programme aims to expand early education in areas where childcare demand is growing and where families face barriers in accessing provision. Phase 3 of the programme - covering 2027 to 2030 - is now open for local authorities to prepare multi‑year funding proposals.
