Getting financial help to send your child to nursery
All three and four year olds are entitled to free nursery education. This is known as the Early Years Education Entitlement (EYEE).
What does the EYEE pay for?
It pays for up to five 2.5 hour education sessions a week at any EYEE registered pre-school provider. Please be aware that some providers may be taking part in the 15 hour flexible offer pilot
The EYEE is funded over three funding periods a year and covers 38 weeks, normally following the school terms.
Will I as a parent or carer be required to pay for anything?
The EYEE covers 2.5 hours of a pre-school provider's education session. A provider's session may well be longer than 2.5 hours. You will need to pay for any time outside of the funded time at that provider's hourly rate. Please see your provider for their session lengths and hourly rates.
When can my child start to receive the EYEE?
A child is entitled to start receiving the EYEE at any registered pre-school provider the funding period after their 3rd birthday.
What do I have to do to ensure my child receives his or her EYEE?
You will need to ensure that your child is enrolled with a registered EYEE pre-school provider at the beginning of the funding period after they turn three.
You should make the provider aware that your child is now eligible to claim the EYEE although most will be aware of this.
Finally you will be required to complete a short form called a ‘Parental Claim' that your provider will then send to the EYEE team. Please note, you will be required to provide ID for your child if they have just become eligible for the EYEE.
This ID must be either a copy of a birth certificate or passport. No funding can be paid for newly eligible children without ID.
You can get a list of registered providers in your area by contacting the Early Years, ChildCare and Extended Schools Service EYEE team.
My child attends a Children's Services Authority (CSA) nursery class
Children's Services Authority (CSA) schools which run a nursery class will continue to accept three-year-olds free of charge, in accordance with their admissions policy. This does not include private or voluntary nursery education providers which are situated on school premises.
Once children have enrolled at an CSA-run school, funding is not transferable to other settings.
For further information contact Family Information – Early Years Childcare and Extended Schools Service.
To find out more
Download a copy of our leaflet A guide to the EYEE for parents and carers.
