Early Education Funding - what is available, who is it for and why is it important?
Funded childcare places are available for families as follows:
For children 9 months to 4 years
Working parent entitlement - 30 hours is now available for eligible parents.
Application required via the Government website - Best Start for Life
For 2 year olds receiving support
- Think2 – 15 funded hours per for families who may not be in work, low income or receiving government support.
- Working Parent Entitlement – an extra 15 hours could be available for families eligible for Think2 and parent/s are working. Find out more and how to apply. Application required via the Government website Best Start for Life.
For families eligible for both Think2 and the working parent entitlement, this could equate to 30 funded hours per week.
3 and 4 year olds
- Universal 15 hours – 15 hours for all 3 and 4 year olds.
- Working Parent Entitlement - in addition to the universal 15 hours, working families could receive an extra 15 hours to make 30 hours. Application required via the Government website - Best Start for Life
Parents can access the Working Parent Entitlements from the term after they have successfully applied for an age eligible child.
Parents can access funded hours at registered childminder, both private and school based nurseries, pre-schools and some wraparound providers, depending on availability.
Children could access funding up until and including the term a child turns 5 years old, but 4 year olds attending a primary school reception class will not be eligible as this is considered a full time school place.
Why is early education funding important to parents and children?
Government funding is intended to pay for quality, flexible childcare. Apart from helping parents with the cost of childcare, it also enables parents for respite, to work for longer or seek employment.
It is important for children to give them the best start in life. The benefits for children range from:
- Quality learning and development
- Consistent routines and play
- New experiences
- Making friends
- Becoming more confident and embedding good habits
- Preparing for school
Therefore it is important of children having good attendance at their childcare setting.
