The pilot, running until March 2012, will test out ways to make sure that nursery places and staff are available in the right areas so that every disadvantaged two-year-old can access the entitlement.
Since last September, every local authority in England has been offering the 15-hour entitlement to 15 per cent of the most disadvantaged two-year-olds, a pledge made by the Labour Government, which has been carried out by the Coalition.
The Government said that £64m in 2011-2012 and £223m in 2012-2013 is being made available to allow every local authority to continue to offer free places for disadvantaged two-year-olds.
Local authorities were asked to submit bids to offer the new places, with a focus on specific issues, including increasing the number of places for two-year-olds, more flexibility for parents to stretch the free entitlement over a calendar year, and improving quality.
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