What is 3 and 4 year old FEEE?
The provision of FEEE enables all 3 and 4 year old children in England to receive 570 annual hours of free childcare.
This can be taken for a minimum of 38 weeks, which is equivalent to 15 hours each week. Some children can also access an additional entitlement up to 30 hours a week.
Children are entitled to a maximum of 10 hours per day, which may be available between the hours of 6am to 8pm, 7 days a week.
Childcare providers may offer the option to stretch the funding over more weeks, or offer a variance in patterns of delivery.
It is best you speak to your childcare provider to discuss days and times your child will attend, this should be done prior to signing a parental declaration form. Your childcare provdier will claim the amount of hours agreed from the Local Authority (LA) directly.
Children become eligible from the beginning of the term after their 3rd birthday, up until they take up a place in a maintained school class, or they reach compulsory school age (the term after their fifth birthday).
The relevant dates are as follows:
- Children born in the period 1st January to 31st March: the start of term beginning on or following 1st April after the child’s third birthday;
- Children born in the period 1st April to 31st August: the start of term beginning on or following 1st September after the child’s third birthday;
- Children born in the period 1st September to 31st December: the start of term beginning on or following 1st January after the child’s third birthday.
Free Early Education Entitlement is intended to cover access to high quality learning at a childcare provider. It is not intended to cover the costs of meals, snacks, additional activities or consumables. It is best that you speak to your childcare provider before signing an agreement to check if there is any additional charges.
