Free early learning for 3 and 4 year olds

The government gives funding to local councils to provide free, part-time early learning for all three and four year olds. Children can start in the term following their third birthday until they are of school age.

This means:

Free early learning is available at various settings including nursery and reception classess in maintained schools, pre-school groups, nursery schools, private nurseries, voluntary sector nurseries, independent schools and network childminders.

Parents using Lambeth early learning are entitled to 15 hours of flexible free early learning for 38 weeks per year. Whilst not all settings offer 15 hours, all parents have this entitlement and the 15 hours can be made up by using two seperate providers. Parents who want more than 15 hours of early learning will be expecetd to pay for the extra hours.

Children moving to England from other countries are entitled to early learning o the same basis as any other child, regardless of whether they have british citizenship.

Free early learning offer for 2 year olds

The two year old free early learning offer is part of the Government's agenda to support and improve outcomes for children through early access to high quality early provision.

The offer for two year olds focuses on economically disadvantaged families and is not available to all two year olds. Families need to be referred for a free place and this can be done through a Key Person, Families Information Service, Job Centre Plus, Health Visitors, Children Centre Outreach Worker or any other professional.

A child who receives a free place can access up to 15 hours a week over 38 weeks a year of free, high quality learning. All families accessing the offer MUST meet (i.e. be in receipt of) at least one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element
• Extra Working Tax Credit relating to a disability
• Pension Credit

Further information

For more information please contact the Families’ Information Service on 0845 601 5317.

You can download the 2011-2012 early learning booklet for detailed information:

• Early learning booklet 2011-2012