Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the new entitlement for three and four year olds from September 2017?

The new entitlement is 1,140 hours of early education for children whose parents are working i.e. 30 hours over 38 weeks (Term-time Only – TTO) or c23 hours per week if extended over the year.

Who is entitled to the full 1,140 hours?

The additional hours will be available to children in families where:

  • both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family.
    and
  • each parent earns, on average, a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum wage (NMW) or national living wage (NLW), and less than £100,000 per year.
  • it is a one parent household and the working parent meets the income rules.

Working will include employed and self-employed persons.

Parents will not necessarily need to actually work 16 hours a week, but rather their earnings must reflect at least 16 hours of work at NMW or NLW. This means that, when the new entitlement goes live, a working parent who is over 25 will need to earn a weekly minimum equivalent of £115.20 whereas a working parent who is 21 will need to earn weekly minimum equivalent of around £107 (at this year’s rates). Parents on zero contract hours who meet the criteria are included in the entitlement criteria.

There are some exceptions from two parent rules and children will also be entitled if:

  • both parents are employed but one or both parents is temporarily away from the workplace on parental, maternity or paternity leave
  • both parents are employed but one or both parents is temporarily away from the workplace on adoption leave
  • both parents are employed but one or both parents is temporarily away from the workplace on statutory sick pay
  • one parent is employed and one parent has substantial caring responsibilities based on specific benefits received for caring; or
  • one parent is employed and one parent is disabled or incapacitated based on receipt of specific benefits.
What will the children whose parents do not meet the employment or exemption criteria be entitled to?

The three and four year olds whose parents do not meet the criteria will continue to be entitled to the universal offer of 570 hours per annum or 15 hours over 38 weeks (TTO).