Early years education

What is early years education?

Children start their formal early years education in the Foundation Stage. This begins the term following their third birthday. Places are available for every child whose parents want them to have one.

All registered providers of early years education are inspected by Ofsted. They must plan the children's learning so that the children are working towards the Early Learning Goals as outlined in the Foundation Stage Curriculum.

The Early Learning Goals set out what most children are expected to achieve by the end of the Foundation Stage in the following six areas of learning:

• Personal, social and emotional development
• Communication, language and literacy
• Mathematical development
• Knowledge and understanding of the world
• Physical development
• Creative development.

Education providers must have an equal opportunities policy and follow the Code of Practice on Special Educational Needs.

What is my child entitled to?

Five free two-and-a-half hour sessions each week, over an 11-week term.

When can my child go?

All children are entitled to a free place starting from the term after their third birthday:

• Children who are three in January, February or March can have their free place from the start of the summer term
• Children who are three in April, May, June, July or August can have their free place from the start of the autumn term
• Children who are three in September, October, November or December can have their free place from the start of the spring term.

Who provides early years education?

Your child may go to any early years setting which has been registered by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (www.dfes.gov.uk) and has a place available. This includes many:

• day nurseries
• independent schools
• nursery centres
• nursery units in schools
• pre-schools or playgroups
• schools with pre-school groups
• childminders part of an approved network
• sure start children's centres

How do I find a place?

• Contact Nottinghamshire Families Information Service on FREEPHONE 0800 781 2168 or visit www.childcarelink.gov.uk/notts for a list of providers
• Contact your chosen provider and arrange a visit, you may want to visit more than one setting to help you choose.
• Once you have chosen where you would like your child to go, check with the provider that there is a place available for your child and confirm a start date.
• When you have your place confirmed we will be notified by your provider and we will pay the provider direct for your place.

Extra support for children with special educational needs

Early Years and Childcare Services is committed to supporting early years and childcare providers to work towards an inclusive approach. This means being able to meet the individual needs of all children. Providers can get extra funding to support children with additional needs. For more information, speak to your provisions manager or special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO). They will be able to get information through their Early Years Specialist Teacher.

Finding out more

The Families Information Service can provide more information about local:

• childminders
• day nurseries
• holiday playschemes
• out-of-school care
• pre-school playgroups.

Contact them on tel: 0800 7812168 or look them up on the internet at www.childcarelink.gov.uk/nottinghamshire

For more information about county council nurseries and schools, contact the admissions team for your district.

For Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Mansfield or Newark, phone the North Base on tel: 01623 433 433.

For Broxtowe, Gedling or Rushcliffe, phone the South Base on tel: 0115 854 6000.

Early Years and Childcare Services is working to make sure that there are enough high-quality early years education places in the county.

You can contact our Early Years and Childcare Services team as follows:

Post: The Early Years and Childcare Services
Children and Young People's Services
County Hall
West Bridgford
Nottingham
NG2 7QP
Tel: 0115 878 7500
Fax: 0115 878 7524
Minicom: 0115 977 3323
E-mail: ey&cc@nottscc.gov.uk