Posted on Sun, Aug 20, 2017
Information on what funding is available for 2, 3 & 4 year olds, including up to 30 Hours Free.
Early Years Education Funding
Universal Offer:
The Government provides 15 hours per week funded Early Years Education for 38 weeks of the year to all children from the term after their third birthday. The pre-school will issue the relevant forms for claiming the universal free 15 hours when necessary.
2 Year Old Offer:
Your 2 year old can get 15 hours free early education and childcare per week from the term after their 2nd birthday 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
- 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
30 Hours Offer:
You may be able to receive up to 30 hours free childcare per week of each child aged 3 or
4 years old – 570 hours a year on top of the ‘universal’ entitlement of 570 hours (15 hours per week).
Are you eligible?
One or two parent households need to be working and earning at least the equivalent each
week of 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage (though less than £100,000 each per annum).
‘Working’ includes those parents who are self-employed, on zero contract hours or on
maternity, paternity or adoption leave, and meet the income criteria.
In two parent households one parent can be disabled, have caring responsibilities or being assessed for work to be eligible.
Your child needs to be aged 3 or 4 to access 30 hours free childcare and will become eligible from the term following their 3rd birthday.
To find out more and apply:
Visit the Government ‘Childcare Choices’ service at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
Other types of support are available. Use the Childcare Calculator to find out what is best for your family at: https://www.gov.uk/childcarecalculator
Need help with the online application or further information?
Contact the Childcare Choices helpline: 0300 123 4097 (Open 7 days a week).
