Commentary on Sections and Schedules Part 1:  General Functions of Local Authority: England Section 17: Charges for early years provision at maintained school
62.Section 17 amends section 451 of the Education Act 1996 which prohibits charges for the provision of education for registered pupils at maintained schools. The changes allow for regulations to prescribe circumstances where the prohibition on charging for education does not apply in respect of early years provision. The regulations may not lift the prohibition in respect of children of compulsory school age or in respect of provision that is secured under section 7 (which deals with the duty to secure free early years provision).