The Department plans to spend around £3.5 billion on early education entitlements this year alone. Government funding is intended to deliver 570 or 1140 hours a year, over no fewer than 38 weeks of the year of free, high quality, flexible childcare for eligible 2, 3 and 4 year olds. This equates to 15 or 30 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year to mirror school terms.<\/p>
All the free entitlements can be \u201cstretched\u201d by taking fewer hours per week over up to 52 weeks of the year to cover term-time and the school holidays and free places can also be delivered at weekends (for example, 23 hours a week for 48 weeks of the year). These entitlements will allow providers to respond flexibly to parents\u2019 individual needs and requirements so that parents are supported to work.<\/p>
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