Nursery World - Local authorities urged to make space for two-year-olds in nurseries

Local authorities will be asked to look at how to increase capacity in early years settings in their area to ensure that they will be able to provide sufficient places for disadvantaged two-year-olds.

Ideas being considered by some local authorities include increasing the number of three-and four-year-olds in nursery classes in schools to allow early years settings to offer more places for two-year-olds.

Speaking in advance of the consultation on proposed changes to the Code of Practice, children’s minister Sarah Teather told delegates at a 4 Children conference in London, ‘We’re about to consult on the specifics of how to deliver the free entitlement.’

Ms Teather said that there was a lot of work to do in many local authorities to increase capacity but that was why the two-year-old places were being phased in so that local authorities could build up capacity on the ground.

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