Free Entitlement is the funding which pays for up to 570 hours per year of flexible early education and care. This is for a maximum of 15 hours per week and can be accessed over a minimum of 38 weeks per year. The benefits for your child are that they will be able to go to a pre-school, nursery or accredited childminder, for free, on a part-time basis.

 

The Family Information Service say that research proves that access to good quality early education and care can improve confidence and social skills, help with language development, improve literacy skills, increase levels of concentration and help with behavioural issues. The funding is available for all eligible children attending a setting in West Sussex regardless of disability, additional needs or citizenship and the funding can be accessed for up to two years. 

 

DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR FREE ENTITLEMENT

  

A child born between:

Will be eligible for Free Entitlement from:

1st April and 31st August

The start of the Autumn term (1st September) following their 3rd birthday until statutory school age

1st September and 31st December

The start of the Spring term (1st January) following their 3rd birthday until statutory school age

1st January and 31st March

The start of the Summer term (1st April) following their 3rd birthday until statutory school age


OUR POLICY 

At TiggyWigs we have decided to offer the maximum amount of funding available, currently 570 hours, but over a period of 38 weeks only. The funding will cover term times only and the remaining weeks that we are open for throughout the year will be charged at normal rates.

 

For customers who require the Free Entitlement as part of a normal session then we will offer a maximum of 3 hours Free Entitlement in the morning and a maximum of 3 hours Free Entitlement in the afternoon. In order to qualify for the maximum amount of 15 Free Entitlement hours then your child will need to attend the setting for a minimum of three days per week.

 

In addition to offering Free Entitlement as part of a normal session we are also offering some places at TiggyWigs on a completely Free Entitlement basis only. This means that qualifying children will be able to attend the nursery during the Free Entitlement allocated times and will not need to pay for any additional hours. We are more than happy to offer these Free Entitlement places only but they will be subject to availability, will only be available on certain days and times, and will be strictly limited to term time only.

 

If you require any further information on the Free Entitlement funding then please feel free to contact us. Alternatively, you can look at the Family Information Service website or contact them by phone on 01243-777807.