All three and four-year-olds are entitled to free early education for 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year. Free early education places are available at a range of early years settings including nursery schools and classes, children’s centres, day nurseries, playgroups and pre-schools and childminders.
Children become eligible for free early education at different points in the year, depending on when they turn three:
| If your child is born between: | They are eligible for a free place from: |
|---|---|
| 1 April and 31 August | 1 September following their third birthday or the beginning of the autumn* school term |
| 1 September and 31 December | 1 January following their third birthday or the beginning of the spring* school term |
| 1 January and 31 March | 1 April following their third birthday or the beginning of the summer* school term |
*Based on a three-term school year
Children remain eligible until, either they start in reception at a maintained school, or the term after they turn five (statutory school age).
The free early education entitlement is a guarantee of a free part-time place – it is not a monetary subsidy or voucher scheme. Parents must not be required to pay any fee for any part of the free entitlement or pay for additional services or hours as a condition of accessing the free place, nor must parents be required to pay a fee up front to be refunded at a later date. However, it is perfectly reasonable for providers to charge for optional extras such as dance or French lessons so long as it is possible to take up a free place without being required to purchase these extras.
For more information about free early education in your area, contact your local Family Information Service (FIS) which is best placed to provide advice on the local provision of early education places.
If this is not what you are looking for, or if you want more information, you can contact the Department using the contact us form, or by telephone on 0370 000 2288.
