Childcare expansion in 2025

The changes to funded childcare entitlements in September 2025 along side the Government’s push for school-based nurseries and wraparound childcare will have a marked impact on the childcare landscape in Plymouth. Now is the time to make sure your business model is ready for the changes

Business support for childcare settings

Whether you’re expanding your childcare settings or starting afresh as a childminder, school, or PVI business; fully funded business support is available to make a success of your business.

Business support in Plymouth is provided by Routeways Limited, who have a long track record of providing business support to businesses in Plymouth.

Contact Alison Roberts on aroberts@routeways.org.uk for more information.

Grants for early years childcare providers

New and established early years settings can apply for capital grants of up to £20,000 to achieve the following goals:

• Establishing a new childcare settings

• Increasing the capacity of their childcare settings

• Adapting their childcare setting to accommodate more younger children (9 months to 2 years)

Capital grants can be used for expenditure related to the creation or expansion of your childcare setting, such as renovating and expanding on-site facilities.

Grants for wraparound childcare settings.

New and established wraparound childcare settings can apply for capital grants of up to £20,000 and revenue grants of£20,000 in order to establish new settings or increase capacity at existing childcare settings, providing these settings provide wraparound care from 8am to 6pm.

Capital grants are to be used for costs related to improving on-site facilities. Revenue grants can be used to off-set the cost of additional staff during the transition period of expanding their capacity.

More information on grants for childcare providers

For more information on grants available to childcare providers in Plymouth visit the Childcare Expansion Grants section of the Plymouth City Council website.

Don’t forget fully funded business support from Routeways can help you prepare you grant applications.

Help for Childminders

Until the 31st of March 2025, new childminders can claim back up to £600 for setup costs (Ofsted registration for example).