Working with children in Barnet

In Barnet, children can access the free entitlement to early education (FEEE) for three and four-year-olds and some two year olds in Barnet. For children aged two there is a targeted service called the Two Year Old Scheme and for children aged three and four there is a universal service called Free Entitlement to Early Education.

Free Entitlement to Early Education for three and four year olds

All three and four year olds are eligible for up to 15 hours of free early education up to 38 weeks per year (term time only) free of charge. These 15 hours can be taken as flexibly as a childcare provider is able to offer. Children become eligible the term after their third birthday.

Free Entitlement to Early Education for newly registered providers of childcare

Barnet Council is committed to working in partnership with childcare providers across all sectors to achieve a flexible, high quality provision which meets the needs of children and promotes parental choice.

Newly registered childcare providers would need to attend the free early years provision information sessions. At these sessions, childcare providers will be told of the process of how to join the directory of free early education providers.

These sessions are compulsory.

The sessions will normally be at the beginning of a school term*.

The process

1. Childcare providers to book a place on the Free Early Education Information session on the scheduled dates by ringing: Lyn Gallacher: 020 8359 7619 or Johanna Goslin: 020 8359 7520.
2. Childcare providers will be visited by the early years teams that support childcare provision. The visits will take place within the first half of each school term. The teams will report back to the free entitlement panel. 
3. The panel will meet on the scheduled dates below and assess whether the provider is able to deliver a high quality early years curriculum which values the child and the childcare business is viable, sustainable and can fund the free early education places for the first term.

Please note all successful childcare providers joining the directory of free early education providers will not receive funding until the end of the term in which they make their first claim.

* based on Barnet Council three term school year.

Participation on the Two Year Old scheme

In order to participate in the Two Year Old scheme childcare settings are expected to deliver a high quality childcare provision. Childcare providers must have been graded as 'Good' or 'Outstanding' in their Ofsted Inspection (those with a 'Satisfactory' grade may qualify if working towards a 'Good').

Childcare providers are evaluated by the Early Years Standards Team, the Pre-school Inclusion Team and Barnet Pre-School Learning Alliance on the quality of the provision, inclusive practice and ability to support child with additional needs and demonstrate how the setting is meeting the Welfare Requirements in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

You can view a sample of the approval forms to participate on the Two Year Old Scheme here.

If you are interested in participating in the Two Year Old Scheme you must contact Johanna Goslin to register your interest.