Children, young people and families: latest service update

Some of our services have changed. Visit our coronavirus hub for the latest information and advice about finding childcare, childcare providers reopening and direct payments.

Please visit these pages for updates before contacting us.

Help with childcare costs

Free childcare for 2-year-olds

Some 2-year-olds can get up to 15 hours of free early education a week until the term after their third birthday.

Find out if your child is eligible

Your child might be eligible for free funding if you’re receiving any of these benefits:

Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Child Tax Credit (not Working Tax Credit), with an annual income below £16,190
Pension Guarantee Credit
Employment and Support Allowance, income related
support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act, 1999
Working Tax Credit run-on, paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
Universal Credit, if you and your partner have a combined income from work of £15,400 or less a year, after tax

Your child might also be eligible if:

they are looked after by us
they have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
they get Disability Allowance
they have left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order

Funding is available from the term after your child turns 2.

Born or in between	Terms for eligible funding
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)

If you’re eligible, the free early education and childcare must be with an approved childcare provider.

Apply

Before you apply, read our guide to applying online (PDF, 922KB).

Apply online

If you need help with your application, you can:

call Family Information Service on 0800 055 6874
visit your local Family hub or delivery site

Using your 15 hours free childcare

You can use your free 15 hours:

over a minimum of 2 days or a maximum of 5 days a week
for a minimum of 2.5 hours a day to 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

You won't have to pay for additional services.

Claim your 15 hours free childcare

If your application is approved, you will receive a reference number. Give this to your chosen childcare provider.

Guidance for parents

Read our guide on Free Early Education Entitlement for 2, 3 and 4 year olds (PDF, 7.88MB) for more information and advice.

This guide is also available in:

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