As part of the Childcare Works Early Years Rapid Learning series we have created a collection of informative case studies exploring how schools have embedded nursery provision on their sites. We spoke with leaders from a diverse range of school-based nurseries (SBNs) in order to gather and share key learning on how to establish, expand and sustain early years provision based in schools.
This collection of five case studies explores:
- Background and development of each SBN
- Curriculum, pedagogy and physical spaces
- Staffing, recruitment and CPD
- Governance and Ofsted
- Funding and financial sustainability
- Reflections on SBNs
School-based nurseries is a term used to describe early years provision which is based within a school site. They may operate independently from the school by a private, voluntary or independent (PVI) sector provider or be run by the school/academy or as governor-run pre-school provision in a maintained school. You can find out more in the Department for Education's guidance on Establishing school-based nursery provision (updated on 4 September 2025).
Benefits of a School-Based Nursery
SBNs can help establish and build relationships between families and schools ahead of formal education and offer convenience for parents and carers with other children already attending the primary school. Additionally, opening or expanding SBN provision can be an effective use of surplus space in school buildings or on a school site, where this space is not needed in the immediate future for other provision.
Brookstead Nursery
This case study focuses on Brookstead Nursery (name changed), part of Unity Trust Primary School
in Hertfordshire. The nursery operates under the primary school’s single Ofsted registration.
Download the Brookstead case study
Everkind Nursery
Everkind (name changed) is a charitable PVI nursery network established in 2020 to deliver year-round childcare.
Download the Everkind case study
Hawthorne School Nursery
This case study focuses on Hawthorne School Nursery (name changed) in Sutton, a 26-place
maintained nursery.
Download the Hawthorne case study
Oakwood, Birchfield and Maple Grove Schools
This case study looks at a Federation of three nurseries - Oakwood, Birchfield and Maple Grove
(names changed) - spread across neighbouring London primary schools.
Download the Oakwood, Birchfield and Maple Grove case study
Orchid Nursery School
Orchid nursery (name changed) in London was established around 2000 under the national Sure Start local programme. Orchid undergoes two separate inspections: one under the Early Years Register for children under two years and another as part of the school inspection covering nursery and Reception classes.
Download the Orchid case study
This collection of case studies was first published here in September 2025.