Free childcare uptake in Brighton & Hove at 100% for disadvantaged 2-year-olds

Brighton & Hove has achieved the nation’s highest take up of Early Years Free Entitlement (EYFE) among disadvantaged 2-year-olds. 

Census data from January 2024 revealed that the council has achieved a 100% uptake of EYFE, a score matched only by one other UK local authority, the Isles of Scilly. This compares to a national average of 75%. 

The 100% take up of EYFE among disadvantaged 2-year-olds in Brighton & Hove was achieved by: 

• working closely with parents to ensure that they are aware of the offer and understand the application process;
• following up with eligible parents who have not yet applied for a place to support them in doing so;
• supporting parents who have applied to find a suitable childcare provider; 
• ensuring that providers are welcoming to parents who are eligible for the disadvantaged 2-year-old offer; and
• using our early years funding formula to pay a small premium (an extra 15p per hour) to incentivise providers to offer places for disadvantaged children.

Current childcare entitlements

EYFE supports parents with childcare costs through free government-funded childcare. 

• All 3- and 4-year-olds are currently entitled to 15 EYFE hours each week.
• Some 3- and 4-year-olds are eligible for up to 30 EYFE hours a week. This is the ‘working parent entitlement’.  
• Two-year-olds whose families receive certain benefits are eligible for 15 EYFE hours per week. This is known as the ‘disadvantaged 2-year-old entitlement’. 
• As of April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds are eligible for 15 hours a week of free childcare support.

Depending on the childcare provider, these hours can be used over 38 weeks of the year or up to 52 weeks if parents/carers use fewer than their total weekly hours.

Find childcare in Brighton & Hove and discover what childcare support you can get.

Expanding free childcare entitlement

Free childcare support will expand further for parents and carers across the country later this year and next year. 

• From September 2024, eligible working parents of children aged 9 months or older will be entitled to 15 hours of childcare support per week.
• From September 2025, eligible working parents of children aged 9 months or older will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare support per week.

Find out more about how the EYFE childcare support scheme is expanding.

Supporting children’s development

Councillor Emma Daniel, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Youth Services, said: “I’m delighted that we have achieved a 100% take up of Early Years Free Entitlement among disadvantaged 2-year-olds in Brighton & Hove. 

“This will support children’s development while allowing more parents and carers to return to work without the added financial pressures of childcare costs. 

“Brighton & Hove is well-placed for the expansion of free childcare in September, which will see EYFE extended to all eligible working parents of children from 9-months old. 

“We can take learnings made from promoting the disadvantaged 2-year-old offer to ensure that as many families can benefit from the free childcare expansion as possible.

“We’d also like to highlight other resources available to families in the city, such as our Family Hubs, Family Service Directory, and Holiday Activities & Food (HAF) programme.” 

Early years Ofsted ratings

As at 31 March 2024, 20% of early years childcare providers in Brighton & Hove were rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, surpassing the national average of 14%, while 98% of providers on the city’s early years register were rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’.