Funded Childcare
Funded Childcare for 2-year-old
How to apply and get a code for free childcare for your child aged 9 months to 4-years old if you’re working:
Your 2-year-old is also eligible for funded childcare if you receive 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
- Child Tax Credits and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
- the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- 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 funded childcare if they:
- are looked after by the Local Authority
- have an Education, Health and Care Plan
- get Disability Living Allowance
- have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
Parents or carers of foster children, children who are in the care of another local authority, children with additional needs or adopted children should apply online and attach supporting evidence to their application.
If you’re a non-EEA citizen who cannot claim benefits:
If your immigration status says you have ‘no recourse to public funds’, you may still get free childcare for your 2-year-old. You must live in England and your household income must be no more than:
- £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
You cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.
Funded Childcare for 3 & 4 year-olds
From the term after their third birthday, until they start school, your child is entitled to up to 570 hours of funded early learning and childcare each year.
This is often taken as 15 hours per week for 38 weeks a year during school term time
What should I do?
Check the table below to see when your child is eligible:
| Child born between | Entitled from: |
|---|---|
| 1 April and 31 August | Start of Autumn funding period (from 1st September) |
| 1 September and 31 December | Start of Spring funding period (from 1st January) |
| 1 January and 31 March | Start of Summer funding period (from 1st April) |
If you are already using childcare make sure you speak to your provider to ensure that you are using all the hours you need and are entitled to.
If you’re not already using childcare:
- Find out your options for help with paying for childcare if you want more than 15 hours
- Get tips on choosing and arranging the childcare
30 hours Funded Childcare
Some children of working parents may be eligible for extra funded early education and childcare. Find out more about the extended entitlement.
Tax-Free Childcare
The government introduced a Tax-Free Childcare scheme which can be used alongside the 15 and 30 hours of funded childcare. You can apply for both the 30 hours and Tax-Free Childcare schemes through one online application.
The top things parents need to know about both these offers can be found in the Childcare Choices factsheet.