Early Years Childcare Services
The Service provides places for 92% of three year olds in the year they start school. In partnership with other private and voluntary independent providers, this means part-time nursery education is on offer before going into the reception class in primary school in the September after their fourth birthday.
The Service also receives extensive funding to give parents in the city a number of free nursery places for three and four year olds in private, voluntary and independent sectors. Coventry has also been chosen as one of forty local Services to benefit from government funding for extra classroom assistants in a scheme that aims to provide two adults in each reception class of thirty children.
Coventry is also home to the Hillfields Early Years Centre, designated in1997 by the then Department of Education and Employment as one of the first Early Excellence Centres. It provides for more than 200 children as well as their families and has established a national and international reputation.
Coventry’s Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership advises the council on new and additional services for children and young people in the city. It also provides training and support for people interested in working with children and young people.
The Partnership aims to support the development of accessible and affordable childcare through access to New Opportunities Fund Grant and the Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative bringing together early education, childcare and Sure Start to improve services for children and families.
The Children’s Information Service located in the city’s Central Library, has been established to provide information on every aspect of childcare.
