From September 2010 all three year olds are entitled to a free, good quality early years place from the term after their third birthday.
This place runs for two years until they reach compulsory school age, and it can be taken flexibly if the setting can accommodate it.
Settings can be in the maintained sector, or in the private or voluntary sector - as long as they are registered to deliver the free entitlement. Settings can include day nurseries, pre-schools or childminders.
In Dudley, we call this entitlement "Extra time for threes and fours".
Flexibility
The free early years entitlement consists of 15 hours per week for a minimum of three hours a day. This runs over a minimum of 38 weeks of the year, or 570 hours a year.
Session length
Providers must ensure they they can offer each child a sessions of at least 3 hours per day, as a minimum.
Entitlement to a free place
All eligible children are entitled to access the free place for two years before they reach compulsory school age.
| A child born between: | Will be eligible for a free place from: |
1st April and 31st August
(inclusive) | The start of the autumn term following their 3rd birthday until compulsory school age |
| 1st September and 31st December (inclusive) | The start of the spring term following their 3rd birthday until compulsory school age |
1st January and 31st March
(inclusive) | The start of the summer term following their 3rd birthday until compulsory school age |
Although the actual term dates vary from year to year to accommodate national holidays such as Easter, which moves each year, term dates to determine eligibility remain constant.
To find out the settings at which you can claim your free nursery education place please contact the Family Information Service:
If you require further information on the free entitlement please contact the Dudley free entitlement helpline on 01384 818085.
