Early years entitlement guidance for 3 and 4 year olds

Free early education for all 3 & 4 year olds (the universal entitlement)

All three and four year olds are entitled to up to 15 hours of funded early education a week term time until they either go into reception or reach compulsory school age (the term following their fifth birthday) and Redbridge is committed to providing a funded part-time early education place for all three year olds from the term after their third birthday. 

An early education or childcare place can be in a pre-school, day nursery; school nursery or with a childminder (please note that not all settings provide the funded entitlements).

Free childcare for 3 & 4 year olds of working parents/carers (the extended entitlement, or 30 hours)

Children of eligible working parents can access up to 15 hours of funded childcare alongside their universal entitlement of 15 hours per week. Using both the universal and working parent entitlements you could get up to 30 hours a week of funded early learning and childcare. 

Further information is available the following sections:

What are the benefits of an early education or childcare place for my child?
  • Early Education gives children the chance to learn, play and make new friends       
  • Early Education gives children some preparation for starting school
  • You can arrange childcare to fit around your personal needs
Is my child eligible for the universal entitlement?

The following dates show which term your child will be eligible for funded Early Education Entitlement.  All children that meet the age criteria below will be eligible regardless of your family circumstances.  

A child born on or between …

Will become eligible for a funded place from …

1 April and 31 August

1 September following their 3rd birthday

1 September and 31 December

1 January following their 3rd birthday

1 January and 31 March

1 April following their 3rd birthday

 

Children will continue to be eligible for a funded place until they reach compulsory school age (the term after their 5th birthday), or when they are enrolled in a maintained Reception class, whichever comes first. 

Is my child eligible for the working parent entitlement (30 hours)?

A child is entitled to the additional 15 hours of funded childcare if they are eligible for the universal entitlement AND the child's parent(s) meets the eligibility criteria set out below:

  • the parent of the child (and their partner where applicable) should be seeking the additional childcare to enable them to work;
  • the parent of the child (and their partner where applicable) should also be in qualifying paid work. Each parent (or the single parent in a lone parent household) will need to expect to earn the equivalent of 16 hours at the national living wage or their national minimum wage rate per week;
  • where one or both parents are in receipt of benefits in connection with sickness or parenting, they are treated as though they are in paid work;
  • where one parent (in a couple household) is in receipt or could be entitled to be in receipt of specified benefits related to caring, incapacity for work or limited capability for work that they are treated as though they are in paid work;
  • where a parent is in a 'start-up period' (i.e. they are newly self-empoloyed) they do not need to demostrate that they meet the income criteria for 12 months in order to qualify for the extended entitlement;
  • the parent of the child (and their partner where applicable) must not have an income exceeding £100,000 (each).

Residence and immigration status 

Please note however that the working parent entitlement is affected by immigration status and residence requirements, as well as the income eligibility.

The parent/carer applying must fulfil one of the following criteria to meet the residence requirement:

  • They are a British or Irish citizen
  • They have settled or pre-settled status through the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS), or they have applied and are waiting for a decision
  • They have permission to access public funds (for example, you have applied to have the ‘no recourse to public funds (NRPF)’ condition lifted, you have indefinite leave to remain, or you are a refugee.)

Only one parent or carer needs to meet the residence requirement to be eligible for the childcare. For example, if one partner is British, but the other has an immigration status with the NRPF condition, then the British partner can apply.

However, if both parents or carers have an immigration status with the NRPF condition, then they will not be able to access the 30 hours’ free childcare for their child. This is also the case if they are a single parent or carer with the NRPF condition.

How do I apply?

Universal entitlement

The provider will ask you to complete a Parent Declaration Form which will confirm that your child will be attending the setting. This will need to be completed before your child accesses their place and will need to be updated by every year. The form will confirm the number of funded early education hours are being offered each term. This information must be provided on the form before you are asked to sign - if it isn't please ask the provider to confirm these details first.

Extended entitlement

If you believe you meet the eligibility criteria you can apply for your child’s early learning place through your Childcare Service account. Visit https://www.gov.uk/sign-in-childcare-account. You will need to provide a variety of information including your National Insurance number and you and your child's details on the system.

If you are eligible you will be provided with a working parent entitlement code. You will need to provide this to your chosen provider at the earliest opportunity and they will add this to your Parent/Carer Declaration form.

You must apply and be identified as eligible the term before you wish to access a working parent entitlement place. The table below shows when you will be able to access a place:

A validity start date…

Will become eligible for the additional hours from …

1 April and 31 August

1 September following their 3rd birthday

1 September and 31 December

1 January following their 3rd birthday

1 January and 31 March

1 April following their 3rd birthday

All checks and applications for the extended entitlement will be processed by His Majesty's Revenue and Customers (HMRC). If you are having difficulty in applying for the extended entitlement please contact the HMRC Childcare Service helpline on 0300 123 4097. 

In addition you will be expected to re-confirm your code every three months through your Childcare Service Account. Failure to do so may result in either not being able to access your child's new working parent entitlement place or your child's place being withdrawn (with notice) where they are already accessing a place.

You are also likely to be eligible for Tax Free Childcare if you are eligible for the working parent entitlements - you can find out more at https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare and apply through the Childcare Service. If eligible, for every £8 you pay towards any childcare costs you will receive £2 from the government (meaning you pay 80% of the costs). 

How do I find a funded early years provider?

You can find a full list of participating childcare settings here. If you would like further support in finding a suitable provider please contact FiND.

It is important to ensure that what your chosen provider can offer is right for you and your child. You should discuss your requirements with the provider prior to coming to an agreement.

What will my child’s place offer?

The funded early learning place can provide up to 15 hours a week of funded early education. It is usually either offered as a term time only place of 38 weeks per year (15 hours per week), or as a stretched offer over 51 weeks (up to 11.17 hours per week).

If eligible for the extended entitlement this will double to 30 hours per week for up to 38 weeks term time, or 22.23 hours per week over a 51 week stretched offer.  

Different settings will provide the early years places in different ways, however sessions must meet the following conditions:

  • No session is longer than 10 hours
  • Early learning must take place between 6.00am and 8.00pm
  • Funding may be taken across no more than three settings and at a maximum of two premises in a single day

Whether you wish to access just the funded early learning place, extended place or if you choose to access additional hours or services, the provider’s offer to you should always be clear and transparent.

Where you are accessing any unfunded hours or additional services you should ensure this is clearly explained by your provider and a contract is put in place that clearly states the agreement. You should ask to see this before committing to a childcare place. If you are in any doubt, ask questions before agreeing to a place.

When can my child access their place?

Children can start their place during certain times of the year. Children should start their place as follows, where possible:

  • Spring term (January to March) - By the 3rd Thursday in January
  • Summer term (April to August) - By the 3rd Thursday in May
  • Autumn term (September to December) - By the 1st Thursday in October

If you miss this deadline and want to take up a place before the next term starts, then you will need to consider the following:

  • The funding cannot be started towards the end of a term. You can check the cut-off date for each term with your chosen Redbridge setting
  • Not all settings are able to accomodate children starting later in the term and they have the right to refuse funded entry after the termly headcount, even if the adjustment deadline has not yet passed
  • If your child is already attending a funded place in another setting you must give notice prior to the termly cut off and must not start a new funded place until the end of your child's notice period. You will be charged for any hours you have accessed over and above your child's entitlement. If you access additional paid hours and services then you will need to ensure that you are meeting any contractual notice periods for these also. You should inform the new provider that your child was previously attending another setting

If you have missed the deadline for starting your child this term, please discuss when funding will next be available with your chosen early years setting. You may still be able to start this term but would likely need to pay for this, or alternatively wait until the following term to access a funded early learning place.

Will I have to pay anything?

The offer of a funded early education and childcare place must be offered ‘free at the point of delivery’. This means that if your child is only receiving the funded hours without any additional paid hours or services then you will not be expected to make any payment to the provider to access your child’s place.

The funded early learning place also only covers the cost of your chlid’s care and early learning. If you are only accessing the funded early learning place then you can choose to provide a packed lunch which would not incur an additional cost, or pay the additional fee for any meals and/or snacks provided by the setting.

If you wish to access any additional hours outside of the funded place, then you will have the option to pay for additional hours. Where your child accesses additional services (such as meals, nappies and other consumables) your provider is entitled to charge for these services.

All childcare providers should have a clear and concise charging policy so that there is no misunderstanding of any costs. The arrangements for payment are a private matter between providers and parents.

If you are asked to pay for your child’s funded early education and childcare place in advance, or if you have any concerns about how your child’s funded place has been calculated you can contact FiND for further advice. Please see the section ‘Further advice and support’ below.

Extended entitlement - what if I am no longer eligible or I don't reconfirm my code in time?

If you stop being eligible

If you have not yet accessed the extended entitlement for your child and your most recent 30 hours check has expired or confirms that you are no longer eligible, then unfortunately you will be unable to access the extended entitlement.

For children who have already accessed their extended entitlement place, those that are no longer eligible will be given a ‘grace period’. Your child’s childcare setting will be informed that you are no longer eligible and will be advised when your child must stop accessing their extended entitlement place. This provides parents and carers with a short notice period to either become eligible again or to make alternative arrangements (such as the child leaving their place or arranging for the place to be paid for privately).  

If you don't reconfirm your 30 hours code

If your child has not yet accessed a place and you have missed the termly deadline, then you would be unable to access the extended entitlement and would need to ensure you have a valid code if you wished to access the entitlement for the following term.

If your child is already accessing a free childcare place you should re-confirm your code at the earliest opportunity, or complete a new application if required. If you fail to re-confirm or re-apply then your child will cease to be eligible for the extended entitlement following the grace period.

Your child will however continue to be able to access the universal 15 hours of free early education.

Can I move my child to a new setting?

Children can move their early education place from one setting to another during certain times of the year. If you intend to move your child, then you will need to consider the following:

  • The funding cannot be moved from one setting to another towards the end of a term. You can check the cut-off date with your Redbridge setting
  • You should give the setting that your child is leaving as much notice as possible. You must give at least 4 weeks written notice and will be unable to access funding at another provision until 4 weeks from the notice given, or from the child's last day of attendance. If your child does not return to their setting in the new term and you have not advised the previous setting your 4 weeks notice will start from the first day of term and you will be unable to claim funding at a new setting during this time
  • If you access additional paid hours and services then you will need to ensure that you are meeting any contractual notice periods
  • You should inform the new provider that your child was previously attending another setting

If you have missed the deadline for moving your child, please discuss this with the early years setting at the earliest opportunity. You will likely need to pay for the remainder of the term or alternatively wait until the following term to access a funded early learning place.

Can I access the funded early learning place at more than one setting?

You are able to claim your funded early learning place at up to three different settings, as long as they are not based on more than two premises. For example, your child could access a breakfast club and nursery class at a school, followed by a childminder. Where you are accessing a place at more than one setting please ensure that you are clear with all settings how many hours of funded early learning that they are each offering your child.

Where your child is attending more than one setting you will need to ensure that the settings include this information on your Redbridge Parent/Carer Declaration Form.

What is the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)?

Some children are eligible to receive additional support from their setting, this is known as Early Years Pupil Premium. You will be asked for some of your information when completing a Parent Declaration Form so your child's setting can find out if your child is eligible. You can find out more here.

The Early Years Pupil Premium is only available alongside the universal entitlement, therefore a maximum of 570 hours per financial year. 

What is the Disability Access Funding (DAF)?

If your child is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) then your chosen provider may be able to access the Disability Access Funding. This provides an annual payment of £828.00 to support your child’s access to childcare. You will need to complete the DAF section on the Parent Declaration Form when signing up for your place.

What happens if my child's setting stops being eligible to offer funded places?

There are some circumstances where funding may be withdrawn from an early years setting and that they would not be able to offer two- and/or three- and four- year old funded places. 

What happens next will vary depending on the individual circumstances but below are some examples of what you can expect if a setting stops being eligible to offer funded places. 

Suspension by Ofsted

If Ofsted suspend an early years setting they will need to cease caring for any children and therefore, early years funding would also stop. We would await the outcome of any investigation before deciding what happens next.

We would usually be able to offer that children accessing a funded place in a suspended setting could transfer their funded place to an alternative setting.

Inadequate inspection rating by Ofsted

No action would be taken until Ofsted publish a setting's Inadequate inspection report. Once published, we would usually look to withdraw funding for two, three and four year olds but would usually offer at least half a terms notice to the setting and their funded parents/carers.  

We would also take other circumstances into consideration, such as children due to move to school soon and availability of places in other Good or Outstanding settings. 

Requires Improvement inspection rating by Ofsted

No action would be taken until Ofsted publish a setting's Requires Improvement inspection report. Once published, we would usually look to withdraw funding for two year olds (not three and four year olds) but would usually offer at least half a terms notice to the setting and their funded parents/carers.  

We would also take other circumstances into consideration, such as availability of places in other Good or Outstanding settings. 

Further advice and support

For further information and support please contact Families Information Direct (FiND).

Complaints process

Please contact FiND in the first instance.

If FiND are unable to reach a satisfactory conclusion to your query and you wish to register a complaint (either regarding a dispute associated with your child's Free Early Education Entitlement place within a setting or the policies mentioned in this guidance) this should be raised in accordance with the Redbridge complaints policy.

Full details of the London Borough of Redbridge Complaints Procedure can be viewed on www.redbridge.gov.uk/complaints

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Related Services
  1. Redbridge Early Years Parent/Carer Declaration Form

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Page last reviewed: 06/02/2024

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