1. Interpretation
1.1. "DfE" - Department for Education
1.2. "Eligible Child" - a child who is eligible to receive free entitlement.
1.3. "EYFS" - Early Years Foundation Stage
1.4. "Free entitlement" - a parent/carer's statutory entitlement for their child to receive early years provision free of charge pursuant to sections 7 and 7A of The Childcare Act 2006 and free childcare provision pursuant to Section 2 of The Childcare Act 2016 as follows -
- the 15 hours per week free childcare entitlement for parents of the most disadvantaged two year olds ('the free two year old entitlement');
- the 15 hour per week free entitlement to early years provision for parents of three- and four-year-olds ('the universal entitlement');
- the 30 hours free entitlement to early years provision for working parents of three and four-year-olds ('the extended entitlement').
1.5. "FIS" - Family Information Service
1.6. "Local Authority" - Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
1.7. "the Provider" - the relevant Private, Voluntary and Independent setting and childminder engaged on the terms and conditions set out herein and referred to as 'the Provider' or 'PVI setting'.
1.8. "SID" - Stockton Information Directory for Families