The Early Education Entitlement is funding which entitles all three and four year olds to a free part time place in a registered childcare setting that provides early years education.All eligible 3 and 4 year olds will receive up to 12.5 hours a week over 38 weeks of the year. This amounts to a maximum of five, 2.5 hour sessions per week.

Children become eligible for the entitlement from the start of the term following their

third birthday. If your child's third birthday is between :

You don't need to make a claim. The childcare setting will inform us of all eligible children attending. The setting includes all eligible children enrolled at the setting by a particular date each term known as headcount day.

This is usually 2 weeks into the start of each new term. Settings cannot receive funding for children who start after headcount day, until the following term. It is your responsibility to ensure your child is enrolled in an eligible setting prior to this date.

The funding paid to settings is for the number of sessions your child is attending up to a maximum of 5 sessions of 2.5 hours per week.

No, the number of sessions your child is enrolled for is up to you. Evidence shows that 5 sessions gives maximum benefit for most children, but not all children's needs are the same.

You must agree with the setting how many sessions your child will attend regularly for the term. If it is fewer than 5, the setting will be funded proportionately. If it is more than 5, you will be responsible for the additional fees. Fees for additional sessions are determined by the setting and are not fixed to the rate of funding.

It is more beneficial to the child if they are able to receive the entitlement at one setting. However, if this is not possible the sessions can be split between settings. The maximum number of sessions that will be funded is still 5. This applies whether the settings are in the same or different local authority areas.

All childcare settings submit details of the children for whom they claim funding, so the number of sessions claimed for each child is known regardless of the number of settings attended.

If the sessions offered by the setting are for 2.5 hours, the sessions must be free of charge.

If your child attends a setting where sessions last for more than 2.5 hours, the setting may request additional fees for the time over the free 2.5 hours. Charges for extra time vary from setting to setting and are not controlled by the local authority. Settings should give clear information on charges for extra time and for any optional services. Most will automatically give this information, but if you do not receive it, ask before registering your child.

No, you can live outside the borough. Settings in Hounslow are funded by the local authority regardless of where the children live, but the setting must be signed up to the Hounslow Early Years Development & Childcare Partnership.

For a list of settings in your area that are part of Hounslow Early Years Development & Childcare Partnership, please contact the Family Information Service on 0800 783 1696 or email fis@hounslow.gov.uk.

Please note that from September 2009, we are taking part in a pilot study that enables a number of childcare providers to offer a flexible extension of the entitlement. This will allow a child to have up to 15 hours of early education per week. Not all settings are taking part in this study, so please contact childcare providers directly to see if they are part of the pilot. Alternatively, contact us for more information.

Hounslow Children's Information Service

Tel: 0800 783 1696

Email: fis@hounslow.gov.uk