St Cuthbert’s Roman Catholic Academy Trust Celebrates Major Funding Boost to Open Four More School Based Nurseries
The St Cuthbert’s Roman Catholic Academy Trust (SCRCAT) is delighted to announce that it has been selected to further support the national roll out of the Government’s landmark initiative to expand school-based childcare.
The Trust, which operates 15 schools across Yorkshire and Humberside, has been collectively awarded £580,000 to develop four more new ‘Little Cuthbert’s’ nurseries. This funding will allow the Trust to provide high-quality care and education for children as young as two years old, directly within the heart of their local primary schools.
The investment is part of a major Department for Education (DfE) drive to create over 6,000 new childcare places nationally. By transforming existing school space into vibrant nursery settings, the scheme aims to cut childcare costs for working families saving them an average of £8,000 a year and simplify the daily school run by allowing siblings of different ages to be dropped off at the same location. The Trust opened its first four Little Cuthbert’s nurseries in October 2025 which are thriving thanks to the first round of funding.
The next four schools set to benefit from this further round of capital funding are:
- St Richard’s VC Academy (Hull)
- St Mary’s VC Academy (Market Weighton)
- St Mary & St Joseph VC Academy (Pocklington)
- St Peter’s VC Academy (Scarborough)
Rachel McEvoy, CEO of St Cuthbert’s Roman Catholic Academy Trust, said:
"Our schools are hubs for the whole community, expanding into school-based nurseries allows us to support families more effectively. Securing four additional sites is a testament to our Trust's commitment to being at the forefront of this national scheme. We are thrilled to welcome our youngest learners this Autumn, providing a seamless transition into primary education that helps every child flourish.
The funding will be used to undertake bespoke building works, creating vibrant environments tailored specifically for two-year-olds. Research from the DfE highlights that school-based nurseries are a lifeline for families, with 59% of parents noting they help significantly with the transition into full time education.
The expansion aligns with the Government’s commitment to giving every child the best start in life by targeting areas where childcare is hardest to find. By bringing nursery provision under the same roof as primary education, the St Cuthbert’s Roman Catholic Academy Trust is ensuring that children from Hull through to North Yorkshire have access to a seamless educational journey from age two through to eleven.
