There has been a significant year-on-year increase in the number of schools lowering their statutory age range, a Tes analysis reveals.

The jump comes as schools are being encouraged by the government to set up nurseries, despite warnings that this can be far more complicated than it might seem.

In 2023-24, 373 schools lowered their minimum age range to between 0 and three years old, compared with 237 schools that did this in 2022-23 - an increase of 57 per cent.

Of those 373 schools, 212 were academies and 146 were maintained schools. The rest were free schools or special schools.

A majority of the schools that reduced their age limit lowered it to 2 (226) or 3 (139).

There had previously been a 24 per cent fall in schools reducing their lower age limit to 0-3 in 2021-22, when 312 schools did this.

Education South West CEO Matthew Shanks, whose trust has 14 schools including eight primaries, said the age range has been lowered in recent years at schools where there was no nursery school already on site or nearby, to allow them to “support children earlier in life”.

“We know how important the early years of a child’s education is, especially for those currently disadvantaged,” he said.

Mr Shanks welcomed the government’s support for nurseries. He added that the trust works “closely” with private providers where it does not have its own nursery provision.

Kindred Squared director Felicity Gillespie said school-based nurseries gave schools the opportunity to build relationships with children and their families earlier, and allowed a more coordinated preparation for Reception.

In the past academic year, 494 schools lowered the bottom limit of their age range in total.

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James Bowen, assistant general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union,  said: “Schools with nurseries often report multiple benefits of working with children and their families from a young age.

“Many see it as an important way to start tackling the disadvantage gap as early as possible.

“While it won’t be an option for all, it makes sense that an increasing number of school-based nurseries are looking to extend that work by working with younger children so they can maximise the positive impact they can have on children’s lives.”

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