Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending arrangements for childcare funding such that the funding is available from the child's relevant birthday irrespective of the time of year.

The entitlements work on a termly basis, so children become eligible from the termly date after they reach the relevant age or after they or their parents first meet the eligibility criteria. The dates on which the terms start are 1 September, 1 January or 1 April. Therefore, depending on when a child is born or when the eligibility criteria is first met, there will be differing periods to wait until the relevant termly date.

The termly basis also allows local authorities and childcare providers to plan and ensure sufficient early years places are available for parents each term, as there are clear periods at which children are likely to enter a place.

Currently, there are no plans to amend the eligibility criteria, but this may be considered in the future.