Eligibility
If you receive benefits from the government, you may be eligible for funded childcare for 2-year-olds. These benefits include:
- 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
Find full eligibility criteria on the Best Start in Life website
Special circumstances
2-year-olds can also get funded childcare if they:
- are looked after by a local authority
- have a statement of special education needs (SEN) or an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- get Disability Allowance
- have left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order
We will also consider applications for children where the council has received a Section 23 notification from Health.
If you’re a non-UK 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. Find full eligibility criteria on the Best Start in Life website.
When you can access this childcare
Funding is available from the term after your child turns 2.
| Born on or in between | Eligible for funding from |
|---|---|
| 1 January to 31 March | Summer term (April onwards) |
| 1 April to 31 August | Autumn term (September onwards) |
| 1 September to 31 December | Spring term (January onwards) |
How to apply
Help with your application
If you need help with your application you can:
- email Family Information Service at fis@essex.gov.uk
- visit your local Family hub or delivery site
- read our user guide to applying online (PDF, 933.33kB)
If your application is approved
If your application is approved, you will receive a reference number. Give this to your chosen childcare provider.
Using your 15 hours funded childcare
If you’re eligible, the funded early education and childcare must be with an approved childcare provider. You can use your funded 15 hours:
- for a maximum of 10 hours a day
- over 38 weeks or pro-rata over a maximum of 52 weeks per year
- anytime between 6am to 8pm, depending on the sessions offered by your chosen provider
- with one childcare provider only without paying for additional services
- without paying for additional services
For more information read our Parent Guide to Funded Education Entitlements (PDF 244 KB).
Privacy notices for education services
Find out what we do with the information you give us when you use our education services.