Shefford Lower School’s Nursery to expand following new funding

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

TUESDAY 24th MARCH 2026

Alistair Strathern, the MP for the Hitchin constituency, has welcomed securing Shefford Lower School Government funding to expand its nursery as part of its Best Start programme. 

Thousands more parents across the country are set to benefit, including in Beds and Herts, as the government has announced an expansion of childcare to over 300 more schools from September.

Shefford Lower is one of 331 schools across the country that have been successful in securing a share of £45 million funding to build or expand nurseries on their site.

Combined with the Government’s offer of 30 hours of funded childcare, nurseries like Shefford Lower's are cutting childcare costs by as much as half for working families.

Across the country this new funding will create over 6,000 more childcare places, on top of the up to 7,000 already being delivered from the first phase of the programme. 

The announcement follows a report published last week showing Labour’s childcare reforms have halved costs for eligible working parents since 2024.

The Government has already doubled the childcare allowance to 30 hours, saving families as much as £8000 per year.

Alistair Strathern, MP for Hitchin, said:

“Out and about, I hear from lots of families about the struggle of accessing high quality, affordable, childcare.

"That's why as well as voting to expand free hours to half childcare costs for parents, I've been campaigning to expand nursery provision locally. 

“So I'm delighted that the Government is backing local families in Shefford with investment for the expansion of Shefford Lower School’s nursery. 

“There's more to do to deliver the childcare system families deserve, so I am going to keep working to deliver more support locally.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

“Too many families still struggle to find affordable childcare close to home, making it harder for parents to balance work and family life.

“School-based nurseries are already helping fill those gaps in communities where childcare is hardest to find, giving children the strong start they deserve and helping parents access childcare close to home.

“By expanding these nurseries further and targeting them at the areas that need them most, we are making sure more families can benefit from quality early education while putting practical support in place to help with the cost of living.

“For too long, where a child grows up has shaped what they go on to achieve. This government was elected to change that – starting with giving every child the best start in life and making sure every family can actually access the childcare they need, wherever they live.”