From September 2013 the 20 per cent most disadvantaged two year olds will be eligible for 15 hours of free early education – roughly equivalent to 150,000 children. From September 2014 this will be extended to the 40 per cent most disadvantaged two year olds – around 300,000 children.   From February to May 2012, [...]

Achieving Two Year Olds project is launched this month Mott MacDonald with its partner Hempsall’s has been appointed by the Department for Education to support the rollout of free early education places for less advantaged two-year olds.   The Government is introducing a legal requirement to secure free provision, through regulations under section 6 of [...]

  Sarah Teather, Minister for Children and Families, has today launched a consultation, Extending Free Early Education to More Two-year-olds, calling for views on the second phase of the roll out of free early education to around 40 per cent of two-year-old children from September 2014 – some 300,000 children.   Two-year-olds from families who [...]

  The government has recently launched the Early Education and Childcare Consultation, which is seeking views on a range of proposals, including: Eligibility criteria for the new entitlement to free early education for disadvantaged 2 year olds, based on the income and benefits criteria which are also used to determine eligibility for free school meals [...]

  There is a huge commitment to improving the take up of free early education and childcare.   You need to communicate to mums and dads in your local community to ensure that they are aware of their entitlements for early education and childcare.  In particular it is important that you reach out to families [...]

High quality early education sits alongside health as an important determinant of children’s life chances. All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free early education per week.   A growing number of disadvantaged 2 year olds are now accessing free early education and by 2014-15 this will be extended to 40% of [...]