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140,000 Toddlers to Receive Free Early Education (14 November 2011)

Date: 14/11/2011
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, 140,000 Toddlers to Receive Free Early Education

Hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged two-year-olds in England will have the opportunity to enrol on nursery places without charge under a new Government scheme. Under Government proposals, all two-year-olds from low-income families will be provided with 15 hours’ "early education" without charge each week. The pilot scheme, which was introduced by Labour, is set to be extended across the nation in September 2013.

At present, all three-year-olds are granted 15 hours’ free education over a total of 38 weeks per annum. This education can be provided through nursery schools, playgroups, children's centres, accredited child minders, daycare nurseries, and pre-schools. Under new plans, which are currently under review, parents will be free to use their 15 hours per week flexibly, between the hours of 07:00 and 19:00. They could therefore benefit from their children attending seven-hour slots over two days per week and this would allow them work while their child learned.

Ministers claim that early education enhances life chances for poor children by aiding in preparing them for school. Disadvantaged children have been found to be less likely to perform well in school in comparison to their peers. Under the pilot scheme, 20,000 two-year-olds were granted free nursery places in a year. By extending the scheme to include all two-year-olds from low-income families, 140,000 will benefit from early education each year, according to Government figures.

Duncan Lewis’ childcare law department specialises in representing children and their families. The team of experienced childcare solicitors specialise in even the most complex aspects of childcare law.

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