Save 0–2 childcare at The Aldgate School – the City of London’s only affordable provider
The Issue
UPDATE, 30 JUNE 2026 – DECISION DELAYED, FUTURE OF CHILDCARE PROVISION STILL UNCERTAIN
At the City of London's Community and Children’s Services Committee meeting on 30 June, when a final decision on The Aldgate School’s 0–2 childcare provision was scheduled to be voted on by Committee Members, Committee Chair Helen Fentimen instead proposed the decision be delayed due to concerns over the level of detail in an officers’ report (read the officer's report here). Deputy Chair Steve Goodman doubted whether the report contained enough information. There was a tied vote to decide on a deferral – 12 against, 12 for – with supportive Members making it clear that this has gone on for long enough and parents and staff needed a decision. Helen Fentimen nevertheless used her casting vote to postpone the decision until the next Committee meeting on 8 September.
We are clear that the City is stalling for more time to build their case to defund the provision. As Common Councillor Jason Pritchard said after the meeting, “If members genuinely did not have all the information they needed to make an informed decision, serious questions have to be asked about why the report came before the committee in the first place."
We now have another wait ahead of us, but we are more galvanised than ever. We have the backing of Rachel Blake MP, and a growing number of City residents.
Email Rachel Blake MP to show your support: rachel.blake.mp@parliament.uk
Read on and help secure the future of our outstanding childcare provision!
THE ISSUE
The City of London proposes to end its long-standing subsidy of the 0–2 childcare facility at The Aldgate School, the only state-funded school in the Square Mile. The school is located in the most deprived part of the City.
A final decision will be made on Tuesday 8 September 2026 at the City’s next Community and Children’s Services Committee, so this is an urgent issue.
KEY REASONS AGAINST DEFUNDING
1. Misalignment with Government Strategy & Policy
As set out in the Government’s ‘Best Start’ strategy, school-based nurseries are a critical element. The Government has opened applications for SBN grants (closing in September 2026), with applications incumbent on local authorities to lead and action. The Government has additionally specified where grants may not be awarded, local authorities should look to work directly with schools to establish SBN models and settings to provide more accessible and affordable options for the local community. Therefore, any decision to close the only existing school-based nursery in CoL – which is already situated in the CoL’s most deprived area – does not only defy logic, but it directly contradicts the Government’s strategy and directive.
2. A Blueprint for School-Based Nurseries and a Modest Financial Model
The Aldgate School 0-2 childcare provision is a 20-year strong established model with a proven track record in delivering integrated education from 0 years through to Primary School.
The Aldgate School have managed to rework its financial modelling and only require up to £60,000 pa to maintain the 0-2 years childcare provision – less than 35% of the original £174,000 subsidy. £60,000 is 0.02 of the City’s. £60,000 is 0.02% of the City’s £300,000,000 annual budget.
3. Family Hubs: a complementary concept and service, not a replacement
One of the key reasons for potentially defunding The Aldgate School 0-2 childcare provision has been cited as the need to divert the funding to Family Hubs. Family Hubs are a completely different service to school-based nurseries and are part of the wider ‘Best Start’ strategy. The Government has been clear: one should not replace the other and that it is considered a mismanagement of funding to divert from SBN to Family Hubs.
4. City of London Childcare sufficiency
• The Aldgate School is the only school-based nursery in CoL and is situated in the most disadvantaged area of the borough, which aligns with the Government’s criteria for establishing SBN.
• The Aldgate School is the only affordable and accessible option within the East of the Square Mile, with other options based in the more affluent West and North, with fees more than double that of The Aldgate School, and therefore not viable options for many working families.
• Private options are not only unaffordable and inaccessible, but options are being diminished; with one private nursery moving out of CoL to Hackney and the other under investigation for serious safeguarding concerns.
5. The Spread of Misinformation
The facts concerning this review have not been accurately represented and there is concern that Members are formalising views and decision based on misinformation. Points of clarification:
• The Aldgate School 0–2 childcare provision will serve nine (9) CoL children from September 2026. (Some Members have been citing two (2) which is completely inaccurate).
• The Aldgate School have historically received a subsidy of £174,000 pa. As part of this review, the school has reworked the financial model to maintain the 0–2 childcare provision to only require up to £60,000 pa – less than 35% of the original subsidy. (Some Members have continued to reference the £174,000 pa as the subsidy required to maintain the provision, which is inaccurate).
WHO THIS AFFECTS
City families – working parents – will be left with no affordable childcare options in the City when the subsidy is cut off in August 2027.
It will mean job losses for experienced, dedicated staff.
Our children will lose access to a safe, high quality early years setting, with a large outdoor play space and thoughtfully designed open-plan classrooms that support social development, continuity of care and strong early social bonds.
WHY THIS MATTERS
If the Aldgate School provision closes, no comparable affordable service exists in the City.
Removing the funding will have minimal budgetary impact but significant, long-term social consequences for families who rely on this essential community provision.
While the UK government is investing hundreds of millions of pounds to build and expand school-based nurseries across England, the City’s Labour-led committee is making this decision against its own party’s policy.
The City should be building and expanding services for children and families, not removing support for one of its most established, effective and accessible provisions.
Without a credible replacement, closing this service will reduce childcare access, undermine support for working families, and narrow the City’s commitment to an inclusive community. Maintaining and strengthening The Aldgate School’s provision would better support the City’s stated goals of creating a thriving, diverse, and family-friendly community.
We urge the City to reconsider their position and continue to support this unique learning environment.
We, the parents of children who attend childcare at the Aldgate School, need your support. Please join us in protecting the future of our children and the staff who care for them by signing this petition. Your support can make a difference!
MEDIA
How has it come to this?
Jason Pritchard, LinkedIn, 7 July 2026
Aldgate School Early Learning Provision Still Under Threat As City Of London Councillor Helen Fentimen Successfully Pushes For Further Delay To Decision About Its Future | RECLAIM EC1
reclaimec1, 3 July 2026
Future of City of London's 'only affordable nursery' uncertain after decision delayed again
Ben Lynch, My London, 1 July 2026
'Outstanding' Central London school may have affordable childcare secured after outcry
Ben Lynch, My London, 25 June 2026
Parents petition City of London not to end 0-2 childcare at 'Outstanding' local school
Ben Lynch, My London, 4 June 2026
Childcare for 0-2s at City of London's only state primary saved for another year as funding extended
Ben Lynch, My London, 20 June 2025
Parents send 'crystal clear' message over future of childcare provision at City of London school
Ben Lynch, My London, 28 May 2025
'Outstanding' London nursery gets stay of execution as funding for ages 0-2 extended for a year
Ben Lynch, My London, 17 January 2025
On The Proposed Closure Of The City Of London Family & Children’s Centre At The Aldgate School | RECLAIM EC1
reclaimec1, 20 November 2024
1,246
The Issue
UPDATE, 30 JUNE 2026 – DECISION DELAYED, FUTURE OF CHILDCARE PROVISION STILL UNCERTAIN
At the City of London's Community and Children’s Services Committee meeting on 30 June, when a final decision on The Aldgate School’s 0–2 childcare provision was scheduled to be voted on by Committee Members, Committee Chair Helen Fentimen instead proposed the decision be delayed due to concerns over the level of detail in an officers’ report (read the officer's report here). Deputy Chair Steve Goodman doubted whether the report contained enough information. There was a tied vote to decide on a deferral – 12 against, 12 for – with supportive Members making it clear that this has gone on for long enough and parents and staff needed a decision. Helen Fentimen nevertheless used her casting vote to postpone the decision until the next Committee meeting on 8 September.
We are clear that the City is stalling for more time to build their case to defund the provision. As Common Councillor Jason Pritchard said after the meeting, “If members genuinely did not have all the information they needed to make an informed decision, serious questions have to be asked about why the report came before the committee in the first place."
We now have another wait ahead of us, but we are more galvanised than ever. We have the backing of Rachel Blake MP, and a growing number of City residents.
Email Rachel Blake MP to show your support: rachel.blake.mp@parliament.uk
Read on and help secure the future of our outstanding childcare provision!
THE ISSUE
The City of London proposes to end its long-standing subsidy of the 0–2 childcare facility at The Aldgate School, the only state-funded school in the Square Mile. The school is located in the most deprived part of the City.
A final decision will be made on Tuesday 8 September 2026 at the City’s next Community and Children’s Services Committee, so this is an urgent issue.
KEY REASONS AGAINST DEFUNDING
1. Misalignment with Government Strategy & Policy
As set out in the Government’s ‘Best Start’ strategy, school-based nurseries are a critical element. The Government has opened applications for SBN grants (closing in September 2026), with applications incumbent on local authorities to lead and action. The Government has additionally specified where grants may not be awarded, local authorities should look to work directly with schools to establish SBN models and settings to provide more accessible and affordable options for the local community. Therefore, any decision to close the only existing school-based nursery in CoL – which is already situated in the CoL’s most deprived area – does not only defy logic, but it directly contradicts the Government’s strategy and directive.
2. A Blueprint for School-Based Nurseries and a Modest Financial Model
The Aldgate School 0-2 childcare provision is a 20-year strong established model with a proven track record in delivering integrated education from 0 years through to Primary School.
The Aldgate School have managed to rework its financial modelling and only require up to £60,000 pa to maintain the 0-2 years childcare provision – less than 35% of the original £174,000 subsidy. £60,000 is 0.02 of the City’s. £60,000 is 0.02% of the City’s £300,000,000 annual budget.
3. Family Hubs: a complementary concept and service, not a replacement
One of the key reasons for potentially defunding The Aldgate School 0-2 childcare provision has been cited as the need to divert the funding to Family Hubs. Family Hubs are a completely different service to school-based nurseries and are part of the wider ‘Best Start’ strategy. The Government has been clear: one should not replace the other and that it is considered a mismanagement of funding to divert from SBN to Family Hubs.
4. City of London Childcare sufficiency
• The Aldgate School is the only school-based nursery in CoL and is situated in the most disadvantaged area of the borough, which aligns with the Government’s criteria for establishing SBN.
• The Aldgate School is the only affordable and accessible option within the East of the Square Mile, with other options based in the more affluent West and North, with fees more than double that of The Aldgate School, and therefore not viable options for many working families.
• Private options are not only unaffordable and inaccessible, but options are being diminished; with one private nursery moving out of CoL to Hackney and the other under investigation for serious safeguarding concerns.
5. The Spread of Misinformation
The facts concerning this review have not been accurately represented and there is concern that Members are formalising views and decision based on misinformation. Points of clarification:
• The Aldgate School 0–2 childcare provision will serve nine (9) CoL children from September 2026. (Some Members have been citing two (2) which is completely inaccurate).
• The Aldgate School have historically received a subsidy of £174,000 pa. As part of this review, the school has reworked the financial model to maintain the 0–2 childcare provision to only require up to £60,000 pa – less than 35% of the original subsidy. (Some Members have continued to reference the £174,000 pa as the subsidy required to maintain the provision, which is inaccurate).
WHO THIS AFFECTS
City families – working parents – will be left with no affordable childcare options in the City when the subsidy is cut off in August 2027.
It will mean job losses for experienced, dedicated staff.
Our children will lose access to a safe, high quality early years setting, with a large outdoor play space and thoughtfully designed open-plan classrooms that support social development, continuity of care and strong early social bonds.
WHY THIS MATTERS
If the Aldgate School provision closes, no comparable affordable service exists in the City.
Removing the funding will have minimal budgetary impact but significant, long-term social consequences for families who rely on this essential community provision.
While the UK government is investing hundreds of millions of pounds to build and expand school-based nurseries across England, the City’s Labour-led committee is making this decision against its own party’s policy.
The City should be building and expanding services for children and families, not removing support for one of its most established, effective and accessible provisions.
Without a credible replacement, closing this service will reduce childcare access, undermine support for working families, and narrow the City’s commitment to an inclusive community. Maintaining and strengthening The Aldgate School’s provision would better support the City’s stated goals of creating a thriving, diverse, and family-friendly community.
We urge the City to reconsider their position and continue to support this unique learning environment.
We, the parents of children who attend childcare at the Aldgate School, need your support. Please join us in protecting the future of our children and the staff who care for them by signing this petition. Your support can make a difference!
MEDIA
How has it come to this?
Jason Pritchard, LinkedIn, 7 July 2026
Aldgate School Early Learning Provision Still Under Threat As City Of London Councillor Helen Fentimen Successfully Pushes For Further Delay To Decision About Its Future | RECLAIM EC1
reclaimec1, 3 July 2026
Future of City of London's 'only affordable nursery' uncertain after decision delayed again
Ben Lynch, My London, 1 July 2026
'Outstanding' Central London school may have affordable childcare secured after outcry
Ben Lynch, My London, 25 June 2026
Parents petition City of London not to end 0-2 childcare at 'Outstanding' local school
Ben Lynch, My London, 4 June 2026
Childcare for 0-2s at City of London's only state primary saved for another year as funding extended
Ben Lynch, My London, 20 June 2025
Parents send 'crystal clear' message over future of childcare provision at City of London school
Ben Lynch, My London, 28 May 2025
'Outstanding' London nursery gets stay of execution as funding for ages 0-2 extended for a year
Ben Lynch, My London, 17 January 2025
On The Proposed Closure Of The City Of London Family & Children’s Centre At The Aldgate School | RECLAIM EC1
reclaimec1, 20 November 2024
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Petition created on 1 June 2026