Free Early Years Education
All children are entitled to free part-time education from the term after their 3rd birthday until they enter mainstream School. Your child must be 3 by 31st March, 31st August or 31st December to qualify for funding for the following term.
Parents can choose where to use their free entitlement. If your child goes to a maintained nursery school or setting you are already receiving your entitlement. If your child goes to another type of provider, you can decide how many sessions to use.
For more details about where your child can access their free early years education click here.
Your choice may depend upon any additional childcare needs that you have. Day nurseries, some playgroups and an increasing number of schools can offer childcare that wraps around the early education session.
- Attends more than 5 sessions
- Stays for more than 2½ hours per session
- Attends more than 33 weeks per year (11 weeks per term)
You may be able to receive some help with the extra costs through the working tax credit if your are eligible.
