In March 2023 the Chancellor announced a significant package of reforms to the childcare sector with the primary purpose of enabling more women in/back to work.
These included:
FEEE2W
15 Funded Early Education Entitlement hours available for eligible working parents for children from the term after their second birthday. Available from April 2024. (this will extend to 30 hours from September 2025).
FEEE1W
15 funded early education entitlement hours available for eligible working parents for children from the term after they turn 9 months. Available from September 2024 (this will extend to 30 hours from September 2025).
Wraparound childcare
An ambition that all parents of primary school aged children who need it would be able to access term-time wraparound childcare from 8am until 6pm, in their local area.
The DfE have announced a program of support and funding to help Local authorities and the sector deliver these reforms.
Capital funding opportunities from S106 will be available from 30th September 2024, the information will be located here.
Consultation outcome
Consultation outcome 12 December 2024 % included - PDF, 129KB
Early years funding - extension of the entitlements consultation response - PDF, 366KB
Provider Communications and updates
Essex County Council (ECC) has a statutory duty to ensure there are high quality sufficient and sustainable childcare places to enable parents to afford to work.
ECC has received capital and revenue funding from the DfE to support the creating of additional childcare places throughout the county.
This has been allocated through two funding streams:
- Under 3's capital expansion grant (FEEE1W and FEEE2W)
- Wraparound childcare capital and revenue grant
Visit the sections below for more information.
