More Plymouth two year olds to get free early education

The number of Plymouth children now entitled to free early education has more than doubled.

Since 1 September 2013, local authorities have had a duty to provide free early education for eligible two-year-olds. From September 2014 that duty has extended to include even more two year olds with wider eligibility. That means that around 1400 city children will now be able to access free early learning.

Councillor Sue McDonald, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Public Health, said: “A child’s early development is absolutely crucial and getting a good start means when a child begins at school they are not at an immediate disadvantage. We want to ensure that no child in Plymouth is in a situation where they need to play catch-up.”

“Not only does the scheme support our children’s learning it also aims to help parents access more training and job opportunities. I’m absolutely delighted that even more of children can now benefit from free early education.”

Plymouth City Council is working together with the Department for Education to offer the free childcare places to eligible two-year olds. Families earning less than £16,190 with a two-year old could get up to 15 hours of free childcare per week at a day nursery, pre-school, and child-minder or in some school’s nursery class. Other criteria for entitlement include:
• Guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income based Job Seekers Allowance
• Working Tax Credit with an annual income not exceeding £16,190
• Child Tax Credit with an annual income not exceeding £16,190
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
• Looked after children
• Children that attract Disability Living Allowance
• Children with a current statement of SEN or an Educational, Health and
• Care Plan
• Children who have left care through special guardianship or an adoption or residence order
• Referred by a professional such as a Health Visitor or local children’s centre

The 15 hours may be used over at least two days each week and parents/carers can use a maximum of 10 hours a day between 8am and 6pm. Although the entitlement is 15 hours a week parents/carers can use less if required.

To find out if your child could get free childcare, you can contact your local children’s centre, talk to your Health Visitor or call the Family Information Service (FIS) on Freephone 0800 783 4259 or 01752 856719 or visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/earlyyearsandchildcare