Altrincham C of E Primary School has successfully secured the maximum government funding of £150,000 to launch a new nursery provision for two-year-olds, opening in September 2025.
The funding comes from a Department for Education initiative designed to address the shortage of childcare places following the government's expansion of free childcare.
From September, eligible working families will receive 30 hours of free childcare from the term after their child turns nine months until they reach school age - an increase from the current 15 hours. The Townfield Road school was among successful bidders nationwide competing for grants to establish new early years provision.
The new Altrincham C of E nursery will initially accommodate 18 two-year-olds from September, with plans to expand to accept up to six babies from birth in the following year. This will add 24 new places to the school's current capacity of 232 pupils.
Headteacher Kirsty Chrysler said the bid was submitted in response to requests from the local community: "It was directly down to parents and people in the local community asking us for it. We had also done a massive parental survey which confirmed to us that there was a huge demand."
The nursery will operate year-round from 7:30am to 6pm, providing wrap-around care for working families that is in line with the government's agenda of supporting more parents into employment.
The school has partnered with Early Excellence, described by Chrysler as "the cutting edge of everything to do with early years education", to design a bespoke learning environment specifically for two-year-olds.
The new facility - which will be constructed over the summer holidays - will include its own servery, sensory room and outdoor area, with furniture and resources specially designed for this age group.
"It will be a perfect space for two-year-olds in terms of play-based learning and really rich experiential learning," said Chrysler.
The nursery will maintain the school's commitment to high-quality education, with a qualified teacher working alongside play workers. The curriculum will be designed to dovetail seamlessly with the school's existing provision.
"Even though they're not statutory school age, we still have a really clear commitment to the quality of education," Chrysler added. "A really key aspect will be school readiness."
"Even though they're not statutory school age, we still have a really clear commitment to the quality of education," Chrysler said. "The curriculum for the two-year-olds will dovetail into that, so it'll be about school readiness, ensuring children are well-prepared for their next educational steps."
Trafford Council supported the bid, recognising the shortage of childcare spaces in the area, and the school already has eight children on the waiting list for the new nursery.
Asked how she would introduce her school to new parents, Chrysler said: "What sets us apart is our values. We're such a value-led school and what we're offering is a really holistic package - education rooted in love and nurture and a real feeling of family and a home away from home."
To register your interest in your child attending Altrincham C of E Primary School nursery, call Miss Dunn on 0161 928 7288