Extension for 3 & 4 year olds - An Introduction
The Extension to the Free Early Education Entitlement offer for 3 and 4 year olds
From September 2010, every local authority must offer 15 hours of free early education to all 3 and 4 year olds, over a minimum of 38 weeks.
That offer must be made available flexibly, to meet parental demand, over a minimum of three days.
The Current Entitlement (until September 2010)
3 and 4 year olds are currently entitled to access 12.5 hours of free early learning and care a week over 38 weeks per year.
3 and 4 year olds can take up their free place at a range of early years settings including nurseries, playgroups, day care providers, nursery classes and accredited childminders.
In order to draw down funding to deliver the free entitlement early years providers must meet any conditions set out by their local authority, be registered with and inspected by Ofsted and deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.
Why is the Government extending the offer?
There is clear evidence which shows that involvement in high quality early years education can lead to better educational and social outcomes for all children – which last through primary school. There are particular benefits for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Early Years provision can also act as an enabler for parents, allowing them time to return to work, enter training or achieve a better balance in their work and family life. This can in turn bring considerable benefits to the children within families taking up early years provision.
The extension of the offer seeks to balance these benefits – extending the offer so that there are additional benefits to children and making the offer more flexible to meet the needs of parents.