Benefits for children
High quality childcare and early education give children a head start in primary school. Research shows that it improves their educational, emotional and social development.
Children with experience of good quality childcare and early education do better in Key Stage 1 (KS1) national assessments in English and mathematics at age seven.
Children who attend a good quality setting are more likely to be more independent, better able to concentrate and more sociable at the start of primary school.
The benefits of part-time attendance are just as good as full-time attendance.
All three and four-year-olds are entitled to a free part-time early education place. This means that each week your child will be provided with 15 hours of free early education. Some two-year-olds are eligible for free early education of 15 hours per week.
Benefits for parents
There are lots of different, good quality childcare arrangements on offer which you can mix and match to suit your daily schedule, working hours, study or training. You can use the free early education places available for three and four-year-olds to take a break, even if you are not working or training.