Free Entitlement for 3 and 4 Years Olds

(September 2010 - March 2011)

All children are now entitled to 15 hours free funding per week

What is Free Entitlement?

Free Entitlement is your child’s right to free, part-time early years education before he or she reaches compulsory school age (the term following his or her 5th birthday).

From September 2010 all eligible 3 and 4 year olds will be able to access 15 hours of Free Entitlement per week to a maximum of 570 hours in a year. 

When can I get a free place for my child?

All children are funded from the start of the April, September or January term following their 3rd birthday.

Which providers are included in the Free Entitlement Scheme?

Most Pre-schools, Day Nurseries and Independent Schools, District Specialist Centres*, Portage Schemes*, Local Authority Nursery Classes attached to a school, NCMA accredited childminders**

*Although these services are free to parents, Free Entitlement money is paid to the service, therefore parents can only use any additional hours in an alternative setting.

**These are childminders who have undertaken additional training and accreditation to become registered providers of early years education. Sessions with these childminders can be funded through the Free Entitlement scheme in the same way as other providers.

Who pays Free Entitlement to my provider/s?

Wiltshire Council will pay the pre-school, nursery, school, specialist centre or accredited childminder directly. You will be asked by the provider/s to sign a form confirming your child’s date of birth, postcode and the number of hours that will be funded. You will need to sign a binding parental contract. 

It is important that you understand what your entitlement isand what services and hours you are still be responsible for paying for.

How does Free Entitlement work? 

Free Entitlement will be paid for hours rather than sessions over a minimum of 3 days.  Parents can claim a minimum of 2½ hours and a maximum of 10 hours Free Entitlement during one day (this can include any meal times although not the cost of the meal).  A maximum of 12½ hours can be claimed over 2 days.

Examples could be:

• Claim 10 hours for Monday, 2½ hours for Tuesday, 2½ hours for Wednesday each week during term time (570 hours per year)

• Claim 3 hours for 5 days each week during term time (570 per year)

• Claim 6 hours on Tuesday, 3 hours on Wednesday to Friday each week during term time (570 per year)

• Claim 11 hours each week for 51 weeks of the year plus 9 hours for a further week, for example, spread your Free Entitlement across term and holiday periods by claiming fewer hours each week (570 hours per year)

Can my child attend more than one provider?

Yes – children can attend more than one pre-school, nursery or accredited childminder, or a combination of these. The funding can be shared between 2 providers (3 if one is a specialist SEN provider).

N.B. The grant is not available for any other providers if your child attends an infant or primary school.

Is there additional funding for childcare costs?

• If you and your partner both work a minimum of 16 hours a week or, as a lone parent, you work at least 16 hours a week, you may be able to claim funding towards childcare costs through Working Tax Credit. Ring the Family Information Service at ask on 08457 585072 or 01380 872915 for details.

• Funding is available to enable some 2 year olds to access 10 hours of free childcare per week if the family is in receipt of benefit.  Contact your local Children's Centre for details or read our page on Two Year Old Funding for more information.

• Your employer may offer, or you can request, childcare vouchers through the Salary Sacrifice scheme.

What happens if my child changes provision?

Providers can only claim funding based on the number of eligible children on their registers during a specified week (“headcount week”). There are three “headcount weeks” a year for the periods April to August, September to December and January to March.

It is unlikely that children will need to change provision during a funding period and you will have signed a contract relating to the funding period.  In exceptional circumstances, for example, a house move:

• the new provider must accept your child without funding up to the maximum Free Entitlement for that period; they can only charge you for any additional hours.

• if the new provider would incur additional costs by accepting your child, for example, employing another member of staff, your child will not be eligible for Free Entitlement until the following funding period.  In this cse you will be charged for all the hours your child attends until the beginning of the next funding period.

What happens if I do not live in Wiltshire but my child attends a group in Wiltshire?

Funding is allocated on the basis of where your son or daughter receives his or her early years education rather than where they live. Therefore your child or children will be eligible for Free Entitlement. 

What should I do now?

• Find out which providers in your area are part of the scheme and have places by contacting the Family Information Service at ask on 08457 585072 or 01380 872915 or email info@askwiltshire.org

• Decide how many sessions your child will attend and book them.

• Be clear what will be free and what you might be charged for.

• Think about when your child will be ready to start school; remembering there is no requirement for them to start school until the term following their 5th birthday.