From September, all local authorities will be required to offer children a place in Reception in the September following the child's fourth birthday.
The DfE has confirmed that children after their fourth birthday will continue to have the choice of a full-time place in Reception or a part-time place with another early years provider from September.
Parents will also have the option to request a part-time place in Reception until their child reaches statutory school age on their fifth birthday.
However, under plans that were being considered by the previous Labour Government, parents who chose not to send their child to school after their fourth birthday from September 2011, would have had the option of a full-time funded place - that is 25 hours - in a maintained or non-maintained early years setting (News, 16 December 2009).
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