Funding for 2-year-olds

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

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
• The Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

Your 2-year-old can also get free childcare if:

• has an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
• receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

• is looked after by the local authority
• has left care under a special guardianship order
• has a child arrangement order
• has an adoption order

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

• £26,500 for families outside of London with one child
• £34,500 for families within London with one child
• £30,600 for families outside of London with two or more children
• £38,600 for families within London with two or more children

Working families:

Working families not in receipt of government support are also able to access 15-hours funded childcare for 2-year-old children. Information on eligibility and how to apply is on the Childcare Choices website.

I'm eligible, what should I do next?

Only childminders, day nurseries and pre-schools that are Ofsted registered and graded Good or Outstanding, can offer 2-year-old funding.

Please click here to find the childcare you need.

Once you have chosen, please call the setting to make an appointment to visit. It is a good idea to look at more than one setting.

Please take all the relevant documentation with you: your child's birth certificate, proof of address and the reference number or code given to you by the checking system. There should be no deposit charged on a 2-year-old funded place.

Funding will start from the beginning of the term following your child's 2nd birthday:

What isn't included?

Funding is not intended to cover the costs of:

• meals or snacks
• other consumables (such as nappies or sun cream)
• extra hours or activities (such as trips)

Providers may charge a fee for these additions. Discuss with your childcare provider if you unable to pay these costs.

Charges should not be a condition of accessing a funded place.

Please note, the entitlement to a funded place does not offer the guarantee of a place at your preferred provider.