A new system which gives parents more choice in the way free education is delivered to three to five year olds has been approved by the county council's Cabinet today.
All parents of three to five year olds are currently entitled to five 2.5 hour sessions per week of free early learning and development for up to 38 weeks of the year.
Under the new system now approved by Cabinet, service providers will be able to be far more flexible in the hours they can offer. Parents will still be entitled to the same number of hours per week (12.5 hours), but they will no longer be restricted to five 2.5 hour sessions. Instead providers will be able to offer more flexible sessions, up to a recommended five hours per day, so that parents can cluster their hours around their own requirements. Parents will also be allowed to spread their entitlement over more than 38 weeks if they plan not to use the full 12.5 hours every week, for example a parent that only used 8 hours per week could continue into school holiday time if the provider is willing.
Under the new system service providers will be paid £3.38 per hour rather than the old system of being paid £8.45 per 2.5 hour session.
Parents can take up the offer of free pre-school education with a provider of their choice, on the condition that the provider is included in the local authority directory of providers. The change in the charging system is likely to impact more on private and voluntary carers, as schools cannot be as flexible in the hours they offer. It will be up to the providers whether they plan to shape their service around the new system, but parents will still have the opportunity to opt for their provider of choice.
The number of free pre-school hours each child is entitled to will also increase from 12.5 to 15 by 2010.
Cllr Philip Chappelhow, Cabinet member responsible for children's services, said:
"Balancing work and family responsibilities can be a struggle for many young families. This new system puts parents first and offers a greater degree of flexibility in how their free pre-school education is delivered."
ENDS
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