Free Early Education Entitlement
All children are entitled to a free early
education place starting the term after their
third birthday. Parents have a choice of the type of
childcare their children can attend in order to receive their
free entitlement. They are as follows: -
- Private Day Nursery (some are based in Children’s
Centres)
- Pre-School/Playgroup or Independent School
- Some Childminders
- Maintained Nursery Unit operated by a Cheshire East School or a
Maintained Nursery School
The entitlement is 15 hours of free early learning and care per
week, provided over a minimum of 38 weeks of the year. The 15
hours will be available on a flexible basis, and the following
will apply:
- The minimum time your child can attend a day is 2.5 hours and
the maximum is 10 hours.
- If accessed over 38 weeks (term time only), the 15 hours must
be taken over a minimum of 3 days a week.
- Sessions will normally be available in half hour
units.
- The entitlement is available between 8am – 6pm, even if the
childcare provider is open before or after this.
- The entitlement may include lunchtime. Please check with your
provider.
- The entitlement may be accessed 38 weeks per year (term time
only) and can be accessed up to 52 weeks. If the entitlement is
accessed over more than 38 weeks, the number of hours per week will
be reduced.
What do I do next?
1. Find a place for your child
As a parent/carer you can decide where you would like your child
to go (subject to availability). For more information about what is
available in your area, or help to find a place call Cheshire
East’s Family Information Service on 0300 123 5033 or go to
our Choosing Childcare pages. You should contact
the provider of your choice as soon as possible in case they have a
waiting list for places.
2. Discuss the free entitlement with your setting
Each term you will be asked to sign a parental declaration,
setting out agreed hours and patterns of access to the free
entitlement. The entitlement maybe split between a maximum of 2
providers. If you decide to access the free entitlement at more
than one setting, you will be required to complete a parental
declaration form for both settings.
More information about
FEEE
is available in a
free to download PDF called Free Early Education
Entitlement (PDF, 109KB)
