Early years education entitlement (EYEE) expansion-overview
In March 2023, the Government announced plans for reforms to childcare. This aims to support parents to return and stay in work. This change will be transformative for parents, children and the economy.
The 30 hours childcare offer will be extended so that more parents and children will benefit. By September 2025, eligible parents in England will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare per week. This will be for 38 weeks per year, from the term after their child is 9 months old, to when they start school.
| Key dates | |
|---|---|
| From April 2024 | Eligible working parents of 2 year olds will be able to access 15 hours of support |
| From September 2024 | Eligible working parents of children aged 9 months plus will be able to access 15 hours of support |
| From September 2025 | Eligible working parents of children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of support per week |
These hours can be used over 38 weeks of the year (during term time), or up to 52 weeks if the provider is open for longer.
Families receiving 2 year old funding because they receive additional government support, will continue to be funded.
Changes to statutory guidance
The DfE published updated Statutory Guidance on 1 January 2024. Charges against funded hours cannot include a providers general running costs. Additional guidance for providers on the publication of any consumable fees charged to parents has been updated. This enables parents to make an informed choice of provider. We will update our guidance to reflect the updates within national statutory guidance.