According to the think tank Reform Scotland, the rule that children are only entitled to funded nursery provision the term after they turn three, means that those born in some autumn or winter months receive fewer hours than children born in the summer. The same rule applies to children in England.
For example, a child born in August receives a full two years (1,200 hours) of free childcare. In comparison a child with a September birthday will receive only 18 months (1,000 hours), while a child born in January will receive just 15 months of free provision (800 hours).
Reform Scotland says that the ‘financial disadvantage’ for families using partnership nurseries means that a child born between September and December loses out by £700, while children born in January and February lose out by £1,400 per year, or £2,800 over two years.
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