A Wiltshire school is set to expand its support for local families after securing £150,000 in government funding to open a new on-site nursery.
Marlborough St Mary’s Primary School has been awarded the funding by the Department for Education to create a 36-place nursery, improving access to affordable, high-quality childcare in the area.
The new provision is expected to help parents balance work and family life, while giving younger children the opportunity to benefit from early education within a familiar school setting.
Wiltshire Council worked closely with the school throughout the application process, helping to identify local demand and strengthen the case for investment.
Cllr Jon Hubbard, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said, “We are delighted that a Wiltshire school has been successful in securing this funding. Our early years and education teams worked closely with the school to support the application, ensuring it reflected the needs of local families and put forward a strong case for investment.
“This funding will help reduce childcare costs, support parents back into work, and ensure more children benefit from high-quality early education in their local community. As the programme moves to a locally led model, we will continue to champion further investment in childcare and early years provision across Wiltshire. Giving children the best start in life is one of our top priorities.”
The nursery forms part of a wider ambition for the school to create a family-centred hub for the community.
Headteacher Dan Crossman said, “This funding allows us to take a huge step towards our long-term vision of creating a family centre at the heart of our school. We’re proud of the national recognition we’ve received for our work with children aged 5 to 11, but we’ve always wanted to extend that same level of provision to younger children and their families.
“This isn’t just about building a nursery – it’s about creating a place where families can access the support they need, all in one setting, and giving every child the very best start we possibly can.”
Deputy Headteacher Russell Goodman added that the grant will be combined with a private donation to help develop a wider family centre, offering social and health support services that are currently lacking in the local area.
Both leaders share a strong personal connection to the community. Russell is a former pupil of St Mary’s, while Dan attended nearby St John’s School in Marlborough, and both are passionate about strengthening support for families locally.
The school has already demonstrated the impact of investment in its facilities, having recently created a forest school area through private funding. The space has already had an immediate positive effect on pupils’ wellbeing and engagement.
Dan’s leadership has also been recognised nationally, having been awarded a silver medal in last year’s Headteacher of the Year awards.
School-based nurseries play a key role in addressing childcare shortages, particularly in disadvantaged areas, where they account for around 35% of early years provision.
Marlborough St Mary’s is one of 331 schools across the country to receive a share of £45 million in funding to build or expand nursery provision, as part of a national drive to improve access to childcare and support working families.
