Nursery World - Nursery places for two-year-olds: a timeline

Follow the development of the funded programme in Nursery World's headlines

The original two-year-old pilots, introduced by the Labour Government, provided early years education to more than 13,500 two-year-olds in 32 local authorities for 7.5 to 12.5 hours a week. The places were targeted at a range of families in a variety of settings, (all were required to use Birth to Three Matters).

Early years sector warns Gordon Brown about plans to give all two-year-olds free childcare places

Gordon Brown pledges a free nursery place for every two-year-old over the next ten years.

Universal free places for two-year-olds scrapped by Government

Just two months later the Government goes back on the plan but insists that its pledge for free childcare for two-year-olds remains. 'We are already rolling this out to 63 local authorities,' a spokesperson commented.

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