The Free Entitlement. 3.1 Funding for the free entitlement should be provided on a fair and transparent basis to providers in order to support sustainability and promote good practice, especially in relation to quality and flexibility. Funding should follow the child, rather than support empty places.
3.2 All families with children eligible for 2, 3 and 4 year old funding should be offered their free entitlement place with no charges or conditions of access. The place must have no conditions of access and be completely free at the point of delivery.
3.3 Providers should deliver the free entitlement consistently so that all children accessing any of the free entitlements will receive the same quality and access to provision, regardless of whether they opt to pay for additional hours, services, meals or consumables.
3.4 Free entitlement places are for every eligible 2, 3 and 4 year old child and are a minimum of 570 hours per year, which must be taken over no fewer than 38 weeks in any year for up to 15 hours per week. This increases to 1,140 hours per year, which must be taken over no fewer than 38 weeks in any year for up to 30 hours per week for 3 and 4 year olds eligible for the 30 hour entitlement. For funding purposes, the maximum entitlement per funding period per eligible 2 year old and 3 and 4 year old child accessing the universal 15 hour entitlement is as follows: accessing the 30 hour entitlement is as follows:
3.5 Providers should publish their admissions criteria and be clear and communicate to parents details about the days and times that the free entitlement places can be taken, along with their services and charges.
The Free Entitlement. 2.1 Funding for the free entitlement should be provided on a fair and transparent basis to providers in order to support sustainability and promote good practice, especially in relation to quality and flexibility. Funding should follow the child, rather than support empty places.
2.2 All families with children eligible for 2, 3 and 4 year old funding must be offered their free entitlement place with no conditions of access and it must be completely free at the point of delivery.
2.3 Providers should deliver the free entitlement consistently so that all children accessing any of the free entitlements will receive the same quality and access to provision, regardless of whether they opt to pay for additional hours, services, meals or consumables.
2.4 Free entitlement places are for every eligible 2, 3 and 4 year old child and are a minimum of 570 hours per year, which must be taken over no fewer than 38 weeks in any year for up to 15 hours per week. This increases to 1,140 hours per year, which must be taken over no fewer than 38 weeks in any year for up to 30 hours per week for 3 and 4 year olds eligible for the 30 hour entitlement. For funding purposes, the maximum entitlement per funding period per eligible 2 year old and 3 and 4 year old child accessing the universal 15 hour entitlement is as follows: accessing the 30 hour entitlement is as follows:
2.5 Providers should publish their admissions criteria and be clear and communicate to parents details about the days and times that the free entitlement places can be taken, along with their services and charges.
2.7 The maximum free entitlement that can be claimed within any one week must not exceed 30 hours.
2.8 Providers must not: o Charge ‘top up fees’(i.e. the difference between a provider’s usual fee and the funding they receive from the LA to deliver free entitlement places) o Charge any other fees for the free entitlement (i.e. ‘up front’ fees in relation to registration or administration) as a condition of a child taking up their free place o Impose conditions of access (i.e. parents must not be obligated to pay lunch time charges in order to secure free provision) o Use funding to cover debts incurred by the parent or for lack of notice of leaving for the free entitlement hours/sessions.
