The number of two-year-olds accessing Early Years Education Entitlement on the Isle of Wight has increased dramatically with 71.5% of those eligible either attending a nursery provision or childminder setting, a significant rise from the previous 40%.
Since June 2013, 1195 applications have been processed, with 1076 children being found eligible for funding; 89% of these parents have then taken up the funding. Currently 409 two-year-olds are receiving funded early years education opportunities.
Providers across the Island have embraced the two-year-old offer and have used the Government capital and revenue funding to generate more places and enhance the quality of provision; leading to better outcomes for children under three. During the last twelve months two-year-old capacity on the island has increased, with approximately 350 new childcare places being developed across the Island.
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, Isle of Wight Council leader, said:
“I am really pleased to see that not only are more children and families benefitting from the free early education places from age two, but that so many more places are being made available across the island. We are greatly exceeding the targets set by the government, which is enabling us to support more local families.”
The quality of ‘early year’s’ provision on the Isle of Wight judged Good or Outstanding by Ofsted remains at a high level of 83%. 9% of day care providers are still awaiting an Ofsted judgement after registration.
Eligible 2, 3 & 4 year old children are entitled to funded early learning and care for 15 hours per week for 38 weeks per year from the term after their second birthday.
