2-year-old offer
As part of the 2010 Spending Review, the Government announced
that the free entitlement to 15 hours of nursery education will be
gradually extended to every disadvantaged 2-year-old in
England.
This expansion will be funded by an additional investment of
around £300 million per year, by the end of the spending period.
This will mean an increase in the number of places nationally from
20,000 to around 130,000 over the next four years.
The Government’s intention is to legislate so that
disadvantaged 2-year-olds receive 15 hours of free early education
a week starting from 2013.
Ministers will seek the views of the sector to define
"disadvantage" to ensure that funding is targeted on those children
who would benefit the most.