Free childcare and education for 2 to 4 Year olds

Early Years Funding

All 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 hours of free early education or childcare per year. It’s usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year.

Some 2-year-olds are also eligible.

You can get free education and childcare for children in Scotland, Walesand Northern Ireland.

3 & 4 year funding

When you can start claiming

The date you can start claiming depends on your child’s birthday.

Child’s birthday: When you can claim:

1 January to 31 March The beginning of term on or after 1 April

1 April to 31 August The beginning of term on or after 1 September

1 September to 31 December The beginning of term on or after 1 January

For example - Your child was born on 15 February 2015. You can get free childcare when the next term starts after 1 April 2018.

Eligibility

The free early education and childcare must be with an approved childcare provider.

It stops once your child starts reception class in a state school.

Eligibility for 2-year-olds

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

Income Support
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Universal Credit if the parent and partner if applicable has a combined income of £15,400 or less a year, after tax
tax credits and you have an annual income of under £16,190 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)

A child can also get free early education and childcare if any of the following apply:

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

APPLY HERE