Share 'Nearly all four-year-olds in free childcare scheme'

All four-year-olds have been entitled to a free early education place since 1998, an offer that was extended to three-year-olds in April 2004. Research conducted by the Department for Children, Schools and Families earlier this year shows that 98 per cent of all four-year-olds are accessing the free offer. Figures have risen since 2008 from 578,000 to 593,400, although the percentage has not chan…