Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister has called on local schools to apply to become part of the next wave of new or expanded nurseries directly on primary school grounds, to make life easier for working parents, cutting down the school run and giving children a seamless start to their education.

It comes as Labour confirmed that over 4,000 extra school-based nursery places were made available across England last month as a result of the government’s initial £37 million investment, including at expanded nurseries here in West Cumbria at Thornhill Primary School and Eaglesfied Paddle Primary School.

School-based nurseries offer children the opportunity to grow up and learn in a consistent environment all the way up to age 11, so they can continue to thrive in an environment they trust.

Amid the ongoing success of the first phase, Labour is going further and faster to tackle childcare cold spots to offer more choice for parents in West Cumbria.

To assist Labour’s drive to give every child the best start in life, local MP Josh MacAlister has invited local primary schools to bid for up to £150,000 funding from a £45 million pot to create a further 300 new or expanded best start school-based nurseries – offering up to 7,000 more places – from September 2026.

Josh MacAlister MP said: “I know from speaking with families across West Cumbria how childcare can put pressure on household finances.

“That’s why Labour’s offer of 30 government-funded hours of childcare has already begun to make a massive difference to local parents – saving them up to £7,500 a year and giving children the best start.

“I’m so glad to see Labour doubling down and I’m inviting schools to join us in making high-quality early years education more accessible and affordable, boosting parents’ work choices and children’s life chances.”

Labour’s second phase will prioritise quality bids from schools serving areas with childcare cold spots in some of the most disadvantaged communities, delivering thousands of new places for families who need them most.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:“School-based nurseries offer a nurturing and stable environment for children that

carries through into primary and helping hand for working parents tackling dual drop off.

“Delivering more of these – under our Best Start umbrella – means more choice and

convenience for parents, and more opportunities to fill the childcare cold spots

impacting families most in need of that little extra support.”