New Statutory Guidance - Funded Early Years Offer

The Department for Education published revised early education and childcare statutory guidance for local authorities on 21 February 2025. The revised guidance will come into effect from 1 April, with the expectation that any changes outlined regarding transparency on charged services will be fully implemented by January 2026. 

The updated guidance also reflects the changes to Ofsted inspection judgements and provides clarification regarding children who may be eligible for both the 15-hour entitlement for families of 2-year-olds in receipt of additional forms of support and the working parent entitlement. 

The Early Years teams are reviewing the guidance and further information will follow as to what the changes will mean for the delivery of funded early years entitlements in Oxfordshire. 

The provider contract will be revised in due course.