Is your child aged three or four?
Every three- and four-year-old is eligible for a part-time early education place. This means that from the term following your child's 3rd birthday, they are entitled to 12.5 hours per week. These generally need to be taken over 5 days with sessions lasting 2.5 hours (although some local authorities offer the places more flexibly over less days).
The places are provided through any registered childcare provider that is receiving the Nursery Education Grant. This includes:
- children's centres;
- day nurseries;
- pre-schools/playgroups;
- nursery schools and classes; and
- childminders who are part of an accredited network.
Early years education places are already being offered for 15 hours per week in some local authorities around the country and this rollout will continue until completion in 2010. You can check with your local Children's Information Service to see if the extended hours are being offered in your area.
You can get in touch with your local Children's Information Service by contacting ChildcareLink on 0800 234 6346 or visit www.childcarelink.gov.uk.
There are also 15 local authorities who are providing places for small groups of disadvantaged two-year-olds as part of a pilot project until summer 2008. These places are offered through a referral system and children will generally be referred through their health visitor or similar.
The funding for early years education places covers 38 weeks per year in term-time, meaning places are not available during the school holidays. You are generally charged for any additional services that your child receives at the setting such as meals or additional hours of care. However, you cannot be indirectly charged 'top up fees' by being forced to take a full-time place in order to secure the free part-time place.
If your child is not accessing an early education place and you want to find out more, contact your local Children’s Information Service via ChildcareLink on 0800 234 6346 or visit their website: www.childcarelink.gov.uk.