Help with childcare costs

Overview - Help with childcare costs
Funding for working parents of 9 months to 4-year-olds
Funding for all 3 and 4-year-olds
Funding for 2-year-olds if you receive certain benefits
Eligibility for 2-year-old immigration and asylum seekers

Funding for 2-year-olds if you receive certain benefits

Your 2-year-old may be eligible for free childcare at nurseries, pre-schools, or childminders.

2-year-old funding offers eligible families up to 15 hours of early education and childcare a week for 38 weeks a year. You can find out if your child can access 2-year-old funding by checking the eligibility criteria below.

Your 2-year-old can get free early education and childcare if you live in England and get one of the following benefits:

Income Support
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Universal Credit - if you and your partner have a combined income from work of £15,400 or less a year, after tax
tax credits and you have an income of £16,190 or less a year, before tax
the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

2-year-olds can also get free childcare if they:

are looked after by a local authority
have a statement of special education needs (SEN) or an education, health, and care (EHC) plan
get Disability Living Allowance
have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order

You may have to pay for extra costs like meals, nappies, or trips. Ask your provider what extra costs you may have to pay for.

Check your eligibility - If you claim certain benefits

To apply for the two-year-old entitlement for eligible working families go to the GOV.UK Childcare Choices website.

If you’re a non-UK citizen who cannot claim benefits

Your 2-year-old may get free childcare if you are getting support under the Immigration and Asylum Act. See the eligibility for 2 year old immigration and asylum seekers for more information.

When 2-year-olds can access their funded place

Eligible children can receive the early education entitlement from the start of the term following their second birthday.

When 2 year olds can access their funded place
Child born between	Can have a funded place from
1 January to 31 March	1 April (Summer)
1 April to 31 August	1 September (Autumn)
1 September to 31 December	1 January (Spring)

How many hours you are entitled to

Eligible 2-year-olds are entitled to a maximum of 570 hours per funded year; your child’s funded year starts from the term after their second birthday. These hours will usually be offered as 15 hours each week in term time (38 weeks of the year) or up to 11 hours per week if taken over the whole year. This will depend on your preferred childcare providers' opening times and availability.

Free childcare providers

The funded childcare for 2-year-olds can only be taken at an Ofsted registered early years provider. Not all providers are registered to deliver funded childcare, please enquire at a setting of your choice to find out more.