How much early years education is my child entitled to?

If your child is aged:

• two (and your family meet the eligibility criteria for the 'offer'), or

• three or four years

they are entitled to access up to 15 hours a week of free part-time early years education (570 hours per year).

The entitlement starts the term after your child’s third birthday (or second birthday if the family are eligible).    See When will my child be eligible for free early years education?

Early years education providers must make available through their own provision or in partnership with another approved provider, the maximum free early years education per child of 570 hours (minimum of 15 hours per week for 38 weeks) for each child in each 12 month period from the date the child becomes eligible.

Delivery of Free Early Years Education can be offered flexibly but in any one day must:

• not be longer than 10 hours

• not be shorter than 2.5 hours

• not be before 7.00 am or after 7.00 pm

As a minimum providers must ensure that parents are able to access their child’s free early education place in the following patterns:

• three hours a day over five days of the week or

• five hours a day over three days of the week

"Standard" and "Stretched" Offers

Since September 2012 part-time early years education has been accessible through two kinds of offers: "standard" and "stretched".

Subject to application and approval by Hampshire County Council, the early years education provider can “stretch” the maximum free early years education over fewer hours a week but over more weeks a year. The provider will then deliver the “standard” term time offer and “stretched” offer at their setting.

See Early Years Education "Stretched" Offer for further details.