2006-2008
The original two-year-old pilots, introduced by the Labour Government, provided early years education to more than 13,500 two-year-olds in 32 local authorities for 7.5 to 12.5 hours a week. The places were targeted at a range of families in a variety of settings, (all were required to use Birth to Three Matters).
24 September 2008
Early years sector warns Gordon Brown about plans to give all two-year-olds free childcare places
Gordon Brown pledges a free nursery place for every two-year-old over the next ten years.
26 November 2008
Universal free places for two-year-olds scrapped by Government
Just two months later the Government goes back on the plan but insists that its pledge for free childcare for two-year-olds remains. 'We are already rolling this out to 63 local authorities,' a spokesperson commented.
22 January 2009
More free two-year-old places to boost social mobility
Places for two-year-olds will be extended from the pilot areas to 15 per cent of the 20 per cent most disadvantaged families in every local authority, reaching around 23,000 children a year.
May 2010
Coalition Government takes office.
September 2010
Fifteen per cent of the 20 per cent most disadvantaged two-year-olds in England are now entitled to 15 hours of early education a week.
All three- and four-year-olds are now entitled to 15 hours a week of free nursery education.
20 October 2010
Sector responds to free places for poorest two-year-olds
Free part-time nursery places will be offered to the 20 per cent most disadvantaged two-year-olds. Places will be offered to the 20 per cent of families eligible for free school meals.
19 September 2011
More disadvantaged two-year-olds in free early education offer
Thousands more two-year-olds will be offered a place in an early years setting from September 2013. Ministers propose changing the eligibility criteria for disadvantage, to include those with free school meals and looked-after children.
11 November 2011
Consultation on early education funding
Government consultation includes slimming the guidance and plans for eligibility criteria for two-year-olds for families with an income of less than £16,190 a year that are receiving Child Tax Credit.
29 November 2011
Free nursery places for two-year-olds to double
The number of nursery places for two-year-olds will be extended to 40 per cent of children, from 2014-15, Chancellor George Osborne announces in the Autumn Statement.
13 December 2011
Enormous shortfall in two-year-old places predicted
Nursery groups raise concerns that a shortfall in the number of early learning places for twos could hamper Government plans. The Department for Education estimates that there could already be a shortfall of around 40,000 places for the initial roll-out.
20 February 2012
Local authorities leave nurseries out of pocket on two-year-old costs
A survey finds that providers piloting the free places for twos are faced with extra costs not covered by local authority funding.
30 May 2012
Expansion of free early years places for two-year-olds to start in the autumn
Nick Clegg announces 2,000 more two-year-old places from September. Ten more trial areas mean some children will be eligible for places a year earlier than planned. The Government also publishes its response to the consultation on changes to the free entitlement and childcare sufficiency.
11 June 2012
Cool response on two-year-olds' free places
The Pre-School Learning Alliance's survey of more than 1,000 nurseries and pre-schools in England found that only one in eight settings believes they will receive enough funding.
21 June 2012
Multi-million pound two-year-olds contract
Mott MacDonald with Hempsall's is awarded the £4m contract to support the Government's roll-out of childcare places for disadvantaged two-year-olds.
9 July 2012
Consultation on eligibility for free places
The DfE's consultation proposes places should be extended to children with special educational needs, a disability, and in care and adopted children from September 2014.
25 September 2012
£100m for building costs to expand places
Local authorities will share £100m among providers for settings to expand and for new nurseries and childminders to set up businesses. The trials start in ten areas.
27 November 2012
Flat rate of funding for two-year-olds
Local authorities are told they will receive an average of £5.09 per child per hour, and urged to pass the full rate on to providers.
17 December 2012
London faces two-year-old places shortage and funding crisis
London faces a shortfall of 25,000 nursery and childminder places to meet the two-year-old offer for 20 per cent of two-year-olds by September 2013.
7 March 2013
Two-year-old pilot study finds high-quality settings make a difference
Children who attended high-quality settings in a pilot 'performed somewhat better' than children who attended 'low or adequate quality settings'.
17 June 2013
Childcare providers raise concerns over future funding of scheme
Some providers fear the existing levels of funding for two-year-olds will reduce when the programme expands from September 2014.
- See the Big Issue for more: www.nurseryworld.co.uk/free-early-education.
