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