Government launches the Early Education and Childcare Consultation

The Government has launched the Early Education and Childcare Consultation, which reflects commitments made in July's policy reform statement 'Supporting Families in the Foundation Years'. One of the key aims of this work is the extension of free entitlement to disadvantaged two year olds, which will see national places increase from 30 thousand to 140 thousand from September 2013.

The consultation launched on 11th November 2011 covers various proposals, including the improvement of the information parents receive from local authorities on sufficiency of childcare, a more flexible free entitlement and a different eligibility criteria for the new disadvantaged two year old entitlement to free early education based on the income and benefits criteria.

You can read the letter from the Department for Education by clicking here.