The School-Based Nursery (SBN) Capital Grant 2025–2026 is now open, offering eligible primary schools and maintained nursery schools in England the opportunity to secure up to £150,000 of capital funding to create new or expand existing nursery provision. This is the second phase of the programme, building on the success of phase one and with a focus on helping schools provide high-quality early years education, particularly for disadvantaged communities.
The application deadline is 5:00 PM on Thursday, 11 December 2025, so schools interested in expanding their nursery provision should act promptly.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include:
State-funded primary schools already offering some early years education, such as reception classes.
Maintained nursery schools seeking to expand their existing provision.
Nursery units led by school governors or academy trusts.
Private, Voluntary, and Independent (PVI) nurseries delivering school-based nursery provision on a school site.
Important: Schools that received funding in phase one (2024–2025) are not eligible for phase two.
What Can the Grant Be Used For?
The SBN Capital Grant is for capital expenditure only, to create a safe, purpose-built nursery environment.
Approved uses include:
Installing or enhancing outdoor play areas and playground equipment.
Creating safe, secure external spaces for children to play, explore, and be active.
Building new structures such as outdoor classrooms, gazebos, and covered play areas.
Providing fencing, canopies, or other features to support outdoor learning and play.
Landscaping works that improve accessibility and safety for nursery-age children.
All projects must comply with statutory and regulatory requirements to ensure safe, high-quality learning and play environments which of course here at Everyday Play, we will make sure of.
Why Outdoor Play Matters
Outdoor play is a crucial part of early years education. It supports children to:
Be physically active and develop coordination and gross motor skills.
Explore, imagine, and develop creativity through play.
Interact and socialise with peers in a safe environment.
Experience nature and develop an appreciation for the outdoors.
Creating high-quality, imaginative outdoor spaces ensures children are engaged, happy, and ready to learn, while helping nurseries meet EYFS statutory requirements for early years provision.
How Everyday Play Can Help
At Everyday Play, we specialise in designing, manufacturing, and installing bespoke outdoor playgrounds and learning spaces.
Our UK-based team can deliver:
Custom-designed play towers, climbing frames, and adventure trim trails.
All-weather playground safety surfacing suitable for little legs to climb, crawl, and explore safely.
Outdoor classrooms, gazebos, and covered play areas for flexible learning and play.
Expert installation that meets ROSPA and UK safety standards.
Every project is tailored to complement your school’s outdoor space, making it safe, engaging, and inspiring for children.
Get in Touch
If your school is planning to expand or enhance its nursery provision with an outdoor learning and play space, Everyday Play can provide the design, manufacture, and installation services to bring your vision to life.
01622 688343
info@everyday-play.co.uk
Explore our outdoor playgrounds and play solutions here at Everyday Play.
The SBN Capital Grant creates opportunities for schools to expand nursery provision, providing high-quality early years environments, especially for disadvantaged children. Everyday Play can support this by:
Supplying play-based learning resources that align with nursery curricula and support child development
Designing interactive, engaging play experiences that help children build key skills for school readiness
Advising schools on creative use of new or repurposed nursery spaces to maximise learning and engagement
Designing a suitable area, ensuring the new nursery environments meet the needs of all children, including those with SEND
By aligning with the SBN program, Everyday Play can help enhance early years education, making nursery spaces more nurturing and interactive, while helping schools make the most of grant-funded expansions.
