24U funding in preschools
The 24U scheme offers 15 hours of free early years education to eligible children. Use the information on this page to find out more about the scheme, whether your child is eligible and how to apply.
24U funding is not to be confused with the government’s expanded 15 hours of free childcare for 2-year-olds which is for eligible working families. For more information on this funding please visit Childcare Choices.24U funding in preschools is a central government initiative, which allows 15 hours of free childcare for targeted two year olds until they start school. Get in touch
with the staff at Little Greenfields Preschool C.I.C for more details. We are based in Shrewsbury.
How will 24U funding help my child
Your child will benefit greatly by having pre-school experience with a 'good' or 'outstanding' pre-school nursery or childminder. This period of time for your child is known as the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children who take up a 24U place will be making friends, having fun and learning all the time. The childcare provider will make sure your child’s needs are met to help them feel secure and confident about starting school when the time comes.
Research tells us that children who have high-quality pre-school experiences are more likely to be successful adults. So don’t delay, sign up today and help your child to learn through play!
Benefits of childcare
Childcare is great for families. It can give you a bit more time to spend with your other children, take up a college course, or go back to work; pick up ideas of what to do with your child at home and how you can help them grow and learn. Children in Shrewsbury are eligible for up to 15 hours of free childcare, starting the term after their third birthday, which continues until they start school. The good news is that some two-year-olds may also be entitled for up to 15 hours per week of free childcare, starting the term after their second birthday.
Is my child entitled to this free early years education?
Two-year-olds whose parents are in receipt of additional forms of government support could be eligible for 15 hours of early education funding. In Shropshire this is called '24U'. The entitlement is 15 hours per week for 38 weeks per year (term time only), or 570 hours stretched over the whole year.
24U funding isn't to be confused with the government’s working family entitlement, which has separate eligibility criteria and application process. For more information on the working family entitlement funding, please visit the Best Start in Life Parent Hub.
Please note: some families of two-year-olds may be eligible for both the 24U funding scheme and the working family entitlement. If this is the case, the first 15 funded hours will be allocated under 24U, and the additional 15 hours under the working family entitlement (a maximum of 30 hours in total).
When is my child eligible?
If you meet the criteria you're entitled to the free place from the term following your child's second birthday:
If your child was born between 1 January and 31 March you're entitled to the place from the summer term (after Easter)
If your child was born between 1 April and 31 August you're entitled to the place from the autumn term (September)
If your child was born between 1 September and 31 December you're entitled to the place from the spring term (January).
Will my child receive a free school meal?
For some children, eligibility for a place is based on entitlement to free school meals. However, this doesn't mean a child will receive a free school meal. Parents should therefore be advised that where their child accesses their free entitlement over a lunch period, the setting can make a reasonable charge for lunch, or offer parents the opportunity to bring a healthy packed lunch. Parents should be made aware of this by the childcare provider.
Where can my child attend?
We'll fund any child living in England who takes up their entitlement in a Shropshire setting
We'll fund any Shropshire child who takes up their entitlement at a setting based in Wales
Shropshire-based children attending settings outside Shropshire or Wales will be funded by the local authority area in which their childcare provider is based. We'll confirm eligibility, and parents should take their confirmation letter to their provider who would then claim funding for the place from their local authority
We won't fund any children receiving an entitlement through the Welsh Flying Start scheme – any parent who has a free childcare entitlement through this scheme who wants to take up this free childcare at a setting based in Shropshire should speak to their home local authority
The quality of childcare and nursery education for two year olds is very important. We work with ear ly learning providers (pre-schools, playgroups, nurseries and childminders) who have been judged by Ofsted to be 'good' or 'outstanding' and are committed to improving their provision.
For details of these providers please contact the Family Information Service or ask your local childcare provider if they provide 24U funded places.
What will my child get?
A free early education/childcare place comprises 15 hours a week over 38 weeks, or a total of 570 hours which can be taken flexibly/stretched over the year (where the parent requests this and the provider is able to do this).
However, this must be taken over a minimum of two days per week, and between two-and-a-half hours and ten hours in any one day. If the offer is accessed over fewer than two days, then a portion of the offer will be lost.
Once a place has been agreed for a child, it will remain funded until the child becomes entitled to a free early education place at three years, even where the family circumstances change and they may no longer meet the criteria.
How do I apply?
All you will need to do is complete an application form, which is available from your health visitor, local children’s centre, childcare provider, primary school or library. When we receive your application we will carry out an eligibility check for you. By simply providing your name, date of birth, and national insurance number, we will be able to tell you if you are eligible to apply for a place. When this information has been received and checked, if you are eligible, we will issue a funding approval letter which you can then take to the childcare provider of your choice and make arrangements for your child to start if they have a place available.
Contact the Family Information Service (FIS) by telephone 01743 254 400
or email shropshireFIS@shropshire.gov.uk for more details.
