Free education for three and four-year-olds

All three and four-year-olds in Medway are entitled to 15 hours of free nursery education for 38 weeks of the year.

Children in Medway can receive their free nursery education: 

  • at a school nursery class;
  • by attending a registered pre-school or nursery;
  • by being placed with a childminder.

Some nurseries, pre-schools and most childminders operate for longer than 15 hours a week and/or more than 38 weeks per year. At some of these you may be asked to pay a fee for the extra hours or days that your child attends.

Eligible age

  • A child born on or between 1 April and 31 August will become eligible for a free place from 1 September following their third birthday.
  • A child born on or between 1 September and 31 December will become eligible for a free place from 1 January following their third birthday.
  • A child born on or between 1 January and 31 March will become eligible for a free place from 1 April following their third birthday.

Your child will be entitled to a free part-time place from the beginning of the school term (one, three or five) when they have reached the eligible age.

Once your child enters the reception class of a primary school, the nursery education arrangements will stop.