[holding answer 11 March 2010]: Pre-school settings and playgroups which are Ofsted registered are eligible to receive funding from their local authority (LA) to deliver the free entitlement for three and four-year-olds to up to 12.5 hours free early learning and child care a week. This will be increased to 15 hours from September 2010. The settings may also receive funding from their LA to deliver free early years places to their most disadvantaged two-year-olds. These settings are eligible for funding from the Sure Start Early Years and Childcare Capital Grant which is also distributed by local authorities, of which £642 million has been made available nationally between 2008-11 to support settings to increase access, quality and inclusion for all children.
Pre-school settings and playgroups are also eligible for funding from other smaller funding streams which are distributed by LAs in accordance with the Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare Grant and Aiming High for Disabled Children Grant: 2009 -10 Memorandum of Grant, 20 February 2009.