Shaun Davies MP for Telford and the Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education visited Wombridge Primary School in Oakengates last week to see first-hand the impact of its new nursery provision for children in Telford.
The school was among the first to take part in the Government’s new school-based nursery programme, which provides funding to create and expand early years provision. Through the initial round of funding, 300 new school-based nurseries were delivered, with the majority of places coming made available in the 2025–26 academic year. Phase 1 of the school-based nursery capital grant is already making a difference for families across the country, supporting the expansion of childcare provision. This year alone, 300 schools have received funding to create up to 6,000 new nursery places. Building on this progress, the programme has now entered its second phase, with a focus on better access high-quality early years education.
A school-based nursery is a nursery setting located on a school site. Some operate independently, while others are run directly by the school. Provision can vary, with some nurseries catering for children aged three and four, and others, like Wombridge Primary School extending support to younger children.
During the visit, Shaun Davies MP for Telford and the Education Secretary met with the headteacher Eileen Solomon to hear directly how the new provision is supporting local families, and to gather feedback that will help shape the next phase of the programme.
Shaun said: “As a dad, I know how much of a difference this type of early support can make for families especially around childcare. It is fantastic to see more than 20 children at Wombridge Primary already benefiting from these nursery places, helping them get a strong, confident start as they move into primary school. Teachers and staff are the ones making this happen day to day, so it’s vital we listen to their experience.”
Mrs Waterhouse who is a parent at the school said: “I’m really happy with the nursery. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and friendly, with lots of different opportunities for the children. My son loves coming to nursery and has a great relationship with the nursery teacher, Mrs Combe.”
Wombridge Primary School Headteacher Eileen Solomon commented: “We are incredibly proud of our new nursery, made possible through DfE funding. It is a fantastic opportunity for our current families, allowing younger children to start their journey with us earlier and develop confidence, independence and a love of learning from the very beginning. It also provides a warm welcome for new families discovering Wombridge for the first time. We are proud to offer an environment where every child feels happy, safe and ready to thrive.”
Shaun added: “I also welcome the Government’s plan to give every child the best start in life from expanding Best Start Family Hubs to making childcare more accessible and providing free school breakfast clubs. These measures support families, strengthen our communities, and give children the confidence and skills they need to thrive at school and beyond.”
