What is happening to the proposal to extend the under 5s offer from 12/half to 15 hours from 2007-08?
Additional resources are being made available to all Local Authorities to support the delivery of a universal 38 week free entitlement. This has been factored into the new dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) funding arrangements. In total, an additional £82 million has been made available through DSG to support the extended entitlement. However, this money is not intended to cover the extension to 15 hours or to support the delivery of a more flexible entitlement. These further extensions of the offer will be fully funded, but no decisions have yet been made about the approach to implementation or timings for roll out.