Nursery Education Grant (NEG) - What it is

The Nursery Education Grant funds Early Years Education hours for three and four year olds from the term after their third birthday.

The term dates are the same every year and are set by the Government:

What the grant pays for

The early years education entitlement is for up to fifteen hours per week, for between 33 and 38 weeks per year. Children can attend fewer than fifteen hours a week (or none at all); it's the parent's/carer's decision.

Eligibility

To be eligible you don’t need to be a resident of the borough of Richmond upon Thames, but your child must go to an eligible "setting" within the borough.

Eligible "setting"

Your child must attend one of the following

• A maintained nursery school or class
• A private nursery registered with Ofsted
• A private or voluntary playgroup registered with Ofsted
• An independent school registered with the Department for Education
• An accredited childminder registered with Ofsted

From September 2010, all maintained schools provide fifteen hours of nursery education per week. Some have a choice of morning or afternoon hours. Demand for places at maintained nurseries is high. Parents/carers who wish to send their child to a maintained nursery are advised to register their child once the child is two years old.

Private nurseries and playgroups, independent schools and accredited childminders must be on the Council's current Directory of Providers which means they are able to provide funded nursery education places.  The Family Information Service can also advise on which local childcare providers are on the Directory.