Funding for three and four year olds

Free early years entitlement for three- and four-year-olds

The government funds free nursery provision for every child from the term after their third birthday until the child starts in a reception class at an infant or primary school, or until the term in which they turn five, whichever's sooner.

Every child will be eligible to receive 570 hours of free care over the course of an academic year. This entitlement can be taken over 38 weeks, a normal school year, by parents taking 15 hours each week. Alternatively parents can spread their entitlement over more weeks each year by taking fewer hours each week.