Funded early education for two-year-olds

Importance of Early Education

Children develop more rapidly in the first three years of their life than at any other time. They learn huge amounts and also begin to understand how to learn and become curious to find out more.

Whilst every child is different and children do not grow and develop at the same rate; all young children benefit from playing with supportive adults, at home and outside the home.

Early education is designed to provide children with developmentally appropriate play and learning opportunities at approved childminders, children’s centres, day nurseries, playgroups, preschools and schools. Good quality, play based, early education in one of these settings can improve a young child’s chances of success in later life and of course, also provides the child’s parents or carers with the chance to go out to work.

There are two types of funding for two-year-old applications