Early Years Entitlement for 2,3 and 4 Year Olds
Qualifying two year olds and every child from the term after their third birthday is entitled to up to 570 hours funded nursery provision a year until the term before they start school. These sessions are known as the ‘Universal Entitlement’.
In addition, working parents / carers of 3 and 4 year olds who meet the qualifying criteria are eligible for an additional 570 hours (1,140 in total) funded nursery provision a year until the term before they start school. These sessions are known as the ‘Extended Entitlement’.
Parents / carers apply for both entitlements via the nursery and must complete the Early Years Entitlement Registration Form. Application for the Extended Entitlement requires a 30 hours eligibility code, which parents / carers must first apply for on-line through the Government’s Childcare Service - https://childcare-support.tax.service.gov.uk.
Both entitlements are subject to Government and Local Authority terms and conditions which we are obliged to work within and which may change without notice.
How we deliver the Early Years Entitlement
It is Mama Bear’s policy to support parents / carers by offering the Early Years Entitlement flexibly, either as stand-alone sessions (Early Years Entitlement-only) or as part of a broader booking pattern (fee-paying nursery place). Please note though that in order to do this sustainably we have to limit how we offer, as well as how many, term time only places each setting provides. Accordingly, some places may be limited with availability being given first to children already in our care, their siblings and then to new clients on a first-come-first-served basis. The dates of the funded weeks vary from year to year but are structured to match local school term dates as closely as possible.
As part of a fee-paying nursery place:
- All year round: Under the Universal Entitlement the first 12 hours per week are funded for 47.5 weeks of the year. The funded hours per week are doubled to 24 for those qualifying for the Extended Entitlement. Parents / carers may choose from any of our available sessions, with a maximum of 10 funded hours in any one day.
- Term time only: Up to 15 hours per week (Universal Entitlement) or 30 hours per week (Extended Entitlement) for 38 weeks of the year. In order to help us balance demand these places are limited in availability and are restricted to 5 and 10 hour sessions only (8.00am-1.00pm, 1.00pm-6.00pm, 8.00am-6.00pm). Early Years Entitlement hours cannot be used for any other sessions on a term time only basis.
Early Years Entitlement-only:
- All year round: Up to 12 hours per week (Universal Entitlement) or 24 hours per week (Extended Entitlement), 47.5 weeks of the year. Parents / carers may choose from any of our available sessions, with a maximum of 10 funded hours in any one day.
- Term time only: Up to 15 hours per week (Universal Entitlement) or 30 hours per week (Extended Entitlement) for 38 weeks of the year. In order to help us balance demand these places are limited in availability and are restricted to 5 and 10 hour sessions only (8.00am-1.00pm, 1.00pm-6.00pm, 8.00am-6.00pm). Early Years Entitlement hours cannot be used for any other sessions on a term time only basis.
What we charge for
The Early Years Entitlement funding is intended to deliver free, high quality, flexible childcare. It is not intended to pay for the costs of meals, drinks, snacks, other consumables, extra hours or additional activities.
To cover this a consumables charge is made for funded sessions.
The charge is intended to contribute towards the cost of items not covered by the funding, including all meals, drinks and snacks.
This charge is waived for parents / carers in receipt of the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP).
As an alternative to the hourly charge, we would therefore encourage parents / carers who are in receipt of benefits or whose children have been in care or adopted from care to apply for the EYPP.
We do not allow parents / carers to bring in their own food and drink for their children. This is a safeguarding measure designed to reduce the risk from hazards such as allergens, food poisoning and choking. Additionally, the policy helps us combat food inequality, promote communal, healthy eating and enables us to embed mealtimes within the wider curriculum (where children learn about specific foodstuffs and then eat them).
For more information about the criteria for two year old funding please click on the relevant link below:
Bristol childcare for two year olds
South Gloucestershire childcare for two year olds
Somerset childcare for two year olds
Torbay childcare for two year olds
Plymouth childcare for two year olds