Nursery World - Flexibility put on trial as nurseries offer 15 hours

Schools in Worcestershire are being asked to take part in a one-year pilot scheme to extend the free early years entitlement to 15 hours from September. The local authority is suggesting that schools opt for one of four models to trial methods of delivering the extra hours as flexibly as possible for parents.

The local authority is suggesting that schools opt for one of four models to trial methods of delivering the extra hours as flexibly as possible for parents.

Currently nursery provision in schools is based around five two-and-a-half hour sessions, with some schools offering morning-only provision.

Liz Eyre, cabinet member for children and young people, said, 'Officers are finding that the take-up in local authority nurseries is not very high and parents have told them private provision is popular because private providers are more flexible.'

There is no extra funding to support the pilot in schools, but the council will evaluate the scheme throughout the year by talking to heads, governors, parents and practitioners.

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