Briefing Note: Who uses government-funded early education in England, and

1 The Issue There are also widespread concerns in the early years sector that the forthcoming roll-out In England, the government currently funds of up to 30 hours of government-funded ECEC 15 hours a week of early education for all 3-4- per week for children aged 9 months to 2 years year-olds and disadvantaged 2-year-olds for 38 in working families could further exacerbate in- weeks of the year. [...] The This briefing note summarises the current early education entitlements were originally in- evidence on who is less likely to take-up the troduced with the aim of supporting children’s 15-hour early education entitlements in England development and reducing inequalities in ac- and the associated barriers to take-up for these cess to and participation in early childhood ed- groups of families. [...] The proportion of funded places for 3-4-year- System-level barriers are those relating to olds in the maintained and voluntary sectors the design of the system, which could potentially is decreasing, while the proportion in private be alleviated if the system were designed differ- ECEC settings is increasing (Stewart & Reader, ently. [...] The idence that the updated letter led to a signifi- objective of these entitlements at the time of in- cant increase in take-up rates; however, this is troduction was to reduce inequalities in access likely due, at least in part, to the business-as- to and participation in early education and hence usual letter also including elements of best prac- child development. [...] Take-up of free early education entitle- the design of the policy, the accessibility of the ments.