Guidance on the Free Nursery Entitlement
for 3 and 4 Year Old Children
From the beginning of the new term after a child's third birthday, 15 hours per week of nursery provision is available free of charge, for 38 weeks of the year.
Parents/carers will be able to use up to 15 hours per week free of charge but may choose to use the nursery for more hours, subject to availability of places - standard nursery fees apply for additional hours.
Please note that the full entitlement to Early Years funding will not equate to the cost of a full time place at nursery but will cover 15 hours per week.
This 15 hours may be taken as 3 x half day sessions (of 5 hours each) or as 5 x three hour sessions, subject to availability.
Please note that in order to benefit from 15 hours of funded time, children must attend the nursery for a minimum of 3 different days per week.
Children who attend only one day each week may use two five-hour-sessions (ie two half days), to achieve the maximum daily total of 10 hours. Free Early Years Entitlement may be used at two different childcare settings, but must not exceed a total of 15 hours each week.
Nursery Managers or Team Leaders will establish the intentions for each family claiming Free Early Years Entitlement in a York Childcare nursery, prior to the start of each term.
Parents/carers will be asked to confirm the agreed attendance pattern at nursery and to sign a contract by a given date.
Additionally, at the start of the new term, each parent/carer will need to complete a Declaration Form provided by the City of York Council . Once completed, these forms are returned to the Council who have a responsibility to ensure that no child is claiming more than 15 hours a week in total.
Payment towards the costs of the free place is made by the City of York Council directly to York Childcare Ltd in 2 instalments, one at the beginning of each term and one at the end of the term.
Monthly invoices show which sessions are Free of Charge (FOC) and which are charged for. If you want your child to attend nursery ONLY for the free sessions, on a term time only basis, please ensure that you tell your Nursery Manager or Team Leader.
For precise details of which 38 weeks are term-time and which 12 are non-term-time, please see the Calendar. Please note that our calendar dates will not be the same as at your local primary school!
For further guidance please arrange to see your Team Leader or Nursery Manager.
Term Time Dates for 2011 2012:
Winter Term: Monday 5th September - Friday 21st October 2011
Monday 31st October - Friday 23rd December 2011
Spring Term: Monday 9th January - Friday 10th February 2012
Monday 20th February - Friday 30th March 2012
Summer Term: Monday 16th April - Friday 4th May 2012
Monday 14th May - Friday 1st June 2012
Monday 11th June - Friday 20th July 2012
Winter Term: Monday 10th September - Friday 19th October 2012
Monday 29th October - Friday 21st December 2012
The City of York Council have developed a leaflet which provides information about 3 and 4 year old funding which you can find via the following link:
http://www.yor-ok.org.uk/Downloads/NEF/Early%20Years%20Entitlement%20June%202010.pdf
Updated 29/11/2011
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