What is Early Education Entitlement?

Early Education Entitlement is effectively free childcare for all 3 and 4 year olds (and some 2 year olds who meet certain criteria), funded by the government. All children are entitled to 570 free hours at nursery per year, starting from the term after their third birthday. You are able to book additional hours on top of your free hours if you would like to.

Parental eligibility

The government has now launched the Childcare Options website to enable families to access the latest information about the offer for childcare https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/. 

Parents can register for updates on 30 hours on this site now. They can also get a provisional idea of whether they are likely to qualify for 30 hours and Tax-Free Childcare using the Childcare Calculator https://www.gov.uk/childcare-calculator

When can my child access their Early Education Entitlement?

All children can begin to receive their free education hours from the term after their third birthday: 

 A child born on or between… 

Can access their free entitlement… 

1st April – 31st August -Beginning of the Autumn term 

1st September – 31st December-Beginning of the Spring term 

1st January – 31st March - Beginning of the Summer term 

What do I have to do to access the Early Education Entitlement?

Around the beginning of each term, you will be asked to sign a Parent Declaration Form, setting out the agreed hours and pattern of access to the free entitlement. Your entitlement may be split with another provider if you wish – if you decide to access your free education at more than one provider you will be asked to sign a parent declaration at both settings. 

Signing the parent declaration commits parents and the nursery to a termly contract. Due to the rules set down by the Local Authority, it is not possible to change the pattern of your free entitlement or change to a different provider during that term, except under exceptional circumstances and with the agreement of the Local Authority.