Early education funding is administered by the Local Authority to enable three and four year olds to access free, good quality, part time education. Funding for this entitlement is provided by the DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families). It is sometimes also called

• The Nursery Education Grant
• Three and four year old funding
• The free entitlement for three and four year olds

Children are entitled to funded early education the term after their third birthday. To check your child’s eligibility according to their date of birth see the attached table which is available as a downloadable pdf below:

Three to Four year old Funding Eligibility Table 2009-2010 (10.4 kb)

All settings which provide funded early education follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and are inspected by Ofsted. Funded early education places are available at:

• Daycare nurseries
• Pre-schools and maintained nursery units
• Accredited childminders

There are a number of planned changes to available funding:

• From September 2009 all eligible three and four year olds continue to be entitled to 12.5 hours of early education funding per week for a maximum of 38 weeks per year.
• From September 2009 eligible three and four year olds who attend settings in a pilot programme enabling parents to access additional funding more flexibly will be entitled to funded early education for 15 hours per week for a maximum of 38 weeks per year. For a list of eligible settings please view the following downloadable pdf: Providers Offering 15 hours per week of Early Education from September 2009 (14.2 kb)
• From September 2010 all eligible three and four year olds will be entitled to flexible funded early education either for up to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year, or the same maximum number of funded hours over more than 38 weeks pro rata.
• From September 2009 a limited number of two year olds who have been identified and referred by a professional working with the family will be eligible for up to ten hours of funded two year old early education over a maximum of 38 weeks per year.

The Local Authority must advise the DCSF of the name, address and date of birth of the children who receive this funding. Parents should receive a privacy notice (formerly known as a fair processing notice) from their early education provider to inform them of this.

To register your child with a pre-school, nursery or childminder please contact the provider of your choice. For more information about finding an early education provider in your area please see Family Information Service