Cascade to: Early Years leads
Local authorities are invited to bid for additional 2011-12 Early Intervention Grant (EIG) funding to trial new approaches to expanding free Early Years education for disadvantaged two-year-olds, and exploring options for allowing parents greater flexibility to use their early education entitlement. This funding is in addition to the wider EIG allocation for local authorities.
A total of £4m will be made available in financial year 2011-12, for a minimum of 10 local authorities, individually or in consortia, to lead work to build capacity, skills, quality and enhance local systems to meet the expected legal entitlement for all disadvantaged two year olds to receive 15 hours of free early education from 2013. This legal entitlement will create a significantly higher demand: the number of funded places nationally will need to increase from around 20,000 to around 130,000 by 2013-14. Up to £400k will be made available for each successful local authority.
Please visit Early learning for disadvantaged two-year-olds for further details and a copy of the bidding form.
Action required
Completed bids need to be received by the Department by Friday 18 March 2011. Successful bidders will be notified by the end of March 2011.
Contact details
Frances Miller
Email: frances.miller@education.gsi.gov.uk
