Free Early Education Places for 3 and 4 Year Olds
Information for parents and carers
What is an early education place?
A free early education place is up to 5 2½ hour sessions a week for 38 weeks of the year for eligible children. A 2½ hour session can be part of a longer session (for example in nurseries) or on its own.
The number of sessions the government funds is limited to a period of 38 weeks per year. This 38 week period is divided into, roughly, the 3 school terms. In effect between 11 and 14 weeks funding is given per term.
Early education places are sometimes known as nursery education grant (or fund) places.
Is my child entitled to a free early education place?
All 4 year olds can get a free early education place. 3 year olds can get a free early education place depending on when their birthday falls, as follows:
Child's Birthday: 1st April to 31st August
Term eligible for early education place: Autumn (starts September)
Child's Birthday: 1st September to 31st December
Term eligible for early education place: Spring (starts January)
Child's Birthday: 1st January to 31st March
Term eligible for early education place: Summer (starts April)
Do all childcare settings offer free early education places?
No. The setting has to be registered with Ofsted and satisfy the Early Years and Childcare Service that it can deliver Foundation Stage education. In Barking and Dagenham this could be at a school nursery, a local authority day nursery, a private day nursery or a pre-school.
The Child Choices booklet (
PDF 1.17M) gives information on which settings are eligible. If you have any doubts please contact the Family Information Service.
To view PDF files requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.
Do I get the money direct?
No, the money is paid to the childcare provider and your fees are adjusted accordingly.
Do I have to pay any fees?
If your child goes to a school nursery for less than 4 hours per day then the answer is no. If your child goes to another type of setting then you may have to pay a fee.
The early education place is for 2½ hours. If the session lasts longer than this you will have to pay a fee. If your child attends the childcare setting for more than free funding period for that school term then you will have to pay a fee.
You childcare provider (not schools) should provide you with a statement informing you of what should be paid and your child's entitlement to a free early education place.
What happens if my child goes to a setting outside Barking and Dagenham?
Funding should be provided by the borough in which the early education setting is located. Therefore, we will provide funding for children who go to an early education setting in Barking and Dagenham, no matter where they live.
If your child goes to an early education setting outside Barking and Dagenham, your funding is usually still available from the other borough. However you should check with the relevant local education authority whether you can claim nursery education funding for your child.
Contact details for our neighbouring boroughs are:
Havering: 0800 678 1991
Newham: 0800 074 1017
Redbridge: 0800 587 7500
How to claim nursery education funding
You need to register your child at a pre-school or nursery that offers early education places. The provider will then take forward the claim on your behalf.
