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Early Years and Childcare

The Early Years and Childcare Team provide information, advice and support to ensure West Berkshire has high quality provision for children.

 

This includes:

  • Early years education settings – these offer education for 3-5 year olds
  • Childcare – day nurseries, pre-schools, childminders, out of school care and holiday schemes, for all children aged 0-14 years and 0-18 years for children with special needs/ disabilities.

What do we do? As well as providing information to the public, the Early Years and Childcare team gives a range of support, training, advice and funding to providers of childcare and early education.  Click HERE for more information.

 

West Berkshire Early Years and Childcare team is committed to developing high quality childcare and early education for children. The click HERE for information to help you make a choice about the right childcare for your child.

 

Are you thinking about a career in childcare?  Click HERE for more information.

 

The government’s vision for a Children’s Centre is that children, families, and communities across England will benefit from the best in quality childcare, early education, parenting support and child and family health services either on site or signposting within the locality.  Click HERE for more information.

 

West Berkshire Early Years and Childcare team provide a wide range of support services to providers to continue improving the quality and availability of childcare and early education in the area. Click HERE for more information.

 

Free Entitlement of Early Education for 3 & 4 year olds

What is Early Education Funding/Free Entitlement?

 

The Local Education Authority offers all 3 and 4 year old children a free education place.  You may access a maximum 12½ hours of free education (integrated care & education from September 2008) for 38 weeks per year.

 

What is a provider?

 

A provider must be registered with Early Years and Childcare in order to be eligible to obtain the free entitlement.  A provider is any of the following:

  • Day Nursery
  • Pre-School
  • Accredited Childminder
  • Independent School
  • Private Nursery School

 

When is my child eligible to claim the funding?

 

The Sure Start Code of Practice on the provision of Free Nursery Education places for 3 and 4 year olds states:-

 

A child born on or between 1 April and 31 August will become eligible for a free place from 1 September following their third birthday.

 

A child born on or between 1 January and 31 March will become eligible for a free place from 1 April following their third birthday (Terms do not necessarily start on 1 January, April and September.)

 

These dates are consistent with those used for determining the commencement of compulsory education and are designed to ensure that every child is able to access two years of free part-time early education before reaching compulsory school age.  However, actual starting dates may vary in line with locally determined term dates.  In practice, depending on local arrangements for admission to school, many children start full-time education in school reception classes before reaching compulsory school age.

 

For more information on the Free Entitlement contact the West Berkshire Council Early Years Team on 01635 519714.