West Devon primary school to expand nursery places with government funding

A primary school near Tavistock will benefit from new nursery places from September, following government grants aimed at helping schools build new nurseries or expand existing facilities.

Gulworthy Primary Academy near Tavistock is one of five schools in Devon selected to receive the funding.

The capital grant will enable the schools to improve or expand their nursery facilities, allowing them to offer more places for younger children on site.

Importantly, it will also allow nurseries that do not currently cater for children under two years old to begin doing so.

At Gulworthy, the funding will be used to add new toilets to accommodate younger children.

From last week (12 May), all eligible working parents with children who will be nine months old before 1 September 2025 can apply for up to 30 hours of funded childcare per week, potentially saving them up to £7,500 a year per child.

Other Devon schools receiving awards from the Department for Education’s school-based nursery capital grant include Brixington Primary School in Exmouth, Wolborough C of E Nursery and Primary School in Newton Abbot, Exwick Heights Primary in Exeter, and Shaldon Primary in Teignmouth.