Nursery World - Nursery education grant code gives parents new rights

The long-awaited Code of Practice for the free entitlement for three- and four-year-olds published last week gives parents the right for the first time to ask their local authority to find them free childcare when they want it.

The statutory guidance sets out how local authorities should guarantee that all parents of three-and four-year-olds have greater flexibility in how they use the free offer of 15 hours a week, spread throughout no fewer than 38 weeks, when it comes into force in September.

The Code also confirms that from 2012, parents will also have the right to spread the free entitlement over a whole year. The Government said this would help parents balance childcare with employment or training and enable them to budget.

Providers and local authorities will also be required to consult parents locally about how they can provide free childcare more flexibly.

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