Skip to main content

Funded early education for 3 and 4-year-olds

Find out how your child can access their funded early education from the term after their third birthday.

What is funded early education?

This is also known as funded childcare, early learning or pre-school education. This allows children to play, learn and be supported by qualified Early Years professionals at a registered day nursery, school nursery class, pre-school playgroup or with a childminder.

Funded childcare entitlement for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds 

Eligible working families may able to access up to 30 hours of funded childcare for their 3 or 4 year old. For details and to find out if you are eligible please see our 'Childcare for working parents' page.

Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)

Read information about the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)

Further information

Department for Education's Funded Early Education Choice Framework (PDF, 70KB) explaining how children aged 2, 3 and 4 can take up a funded early education place, and what information is available to parents.