Free Early Years Entitlement (FEYE)

The Free Early Years Entitlement (FEYE) is available to all three and four year old children from the first term after their third birthday.  It means that your child is entitled to receive up to 15 hours free early years education per week at a local provision registered with the Information and Childcare Team.

The FEYE funds a maximum of 15 hours per week for 38 weeks per year, over three terms.  The terms are:

• Summer Term 2012 (1/4/12-31/8/12)
• Autumn Term 2012 (1/9/12-31/12/12)
• Spring Term 2013 (1/1/13-31/3/13)

The Local Authority pays the funding directly to the provider.  Parents will receive a reduction in respect of the FEYE hours claimed from their provider.  Your child can stay at a provision for a longer period than 15 hours per week but you will have to pay for the additional hours.

FEYE can be accessed at early education settings registered with the Warrington Borough Council’s Information and Childcare Team. 

These include:

• Maintained nursery classes
• Sandy Lane nursery school
• Pre-schools registered with the Childcare Team
• Private day nurseries registered with the Childcare Team
• Accredited Childminders (part of Warrington’s Children Come First Network) 
• Information on joining childminding network

You can contact the Families Information Service for a list of providers who are registered to deliver the Free Early Years Entitlement.

What the FEYE covers

Up to 15 hours per week free early years education during term time, at a provision registered with the Information and Childcare Team

FEYE conditions include:-

• the 15 hours can be accessed over no fewer than three days for the full entitlement and a maximum of 12.5 hours over 2 days
• a minimum of 2.5 hours and a maximum of 10 hours can be accessed in any one day, subject to availability with the provider

• can be accessed between the hours of 8am and 6pm
• can be accessed at a maximum of two childcare providers at any one time
• usual number of hours to be claimed for the Summer Term is 180 hours, for Autumn Term 210 hours and for the Spring Term 180 hours

 Claiming your entitlement

• check that the provider is registered to offer the free early years entitlement
• if they are, they will ask you to complete a parental agreement form agreeing to accept a place for your child
• be aware that claiming FEYE may affect your Tax Credits claim for the childcare element of working tax credit

For more information please contact the Free Early Years Entitlement Team on 01925 442151/443310

Contact details:

Families Information Service
2nd floor, New Town House
Buttermarket Street
Warrington
WA1 2NJ

Tel: 01925 443131

Email: fis@warrington.gov.uk