
Early Years Funding
All 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 hours of funded 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 funded 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 funded childcare when the next term starts after 1 April 2018.
Eligibility
The funded 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 funded early education and childcare if you get one of the following:
-
- income support
- income based Job Seekers Allowance
- income related Employment Support Allowance
- support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guarantee element of Pension Credit
- child tax credit - provided annual income assessed by HMRC does not exceed £16,190
- working tax credit - provided annual income assessment by HMRC does not exceed £16,190
- working tax credit “run-on” – the payment someone may receive for a further 4 weeks after they stop qualifying for working tax credit.
- Universal Credit - if you (and your partner, if applicable) are on a low income from work this usually means a combined income of less than £15,400 a year after tax.
A child can also get funded early education and childcare if any of the following apply:
- they are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (please provide a recent copy of the letter showing the benefit to support the application);
- they have left care through special guardianship, adoption or child arrangement order;
- they are a child of Zambrano carers;
- the family has no recourse to public funds with a right to remain in the UK on grounds of private/family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights;
- they are a subset of failed asylum seekers (supported under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999).
- Children who have a current statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) or an Education, Health and Care Plan;
- Children looked after by the local authority.
Who to contact
- Telephone
- freefortwos@peterborough.gov.uk
- Website
- Two Year Funding
Where to go
- Address
-
Sand Martin House
Bittern way
Fletton Quays
Peterborough
- Postcode
- PE2 8TY