15 hours free and funded childcare and early learning for 2 year olds

From April 2024, working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours childcare support. Click here to find out more about the upcoming changes.

Currently free childcare for 2 year olds is only available if you meet the any of the criteria below.

• Income Support
  
• Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  
• support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
  
• Universal Credit and not working
  
• Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
  
• Your incomes is £16,190 a year or less, and you
  
  • are in receipt of child tax credit, working tax credit (or both)
    
  • are in receipt of the working tax credit 4 week run on
    

• Create an account if you do not already have one.
  
• Apply. You will need to have your national insurance number or National Asylum Seeker Service NASS number
• Do not add any documents. Tick 'Please confirm that you wish to proceed without attaching any documents’ when prompted.

Click here to apply

Your child has a special educational need or a disability and has:

• an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP)
  
• or receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

Your child is adopted or in foster care and:

• 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

Your household income after tax must be no more than:

• £34,500 for families with one child
• £38,600 for families with two or more children

The funding is not intended to cover the costs of:

• meals, snacks, drinks
  
• nappies or sun cream,
  
• more hours,
  
• extra activities (such as trips).
  

Providers may charge a fee for these. They must offer other options to you. If you choose to pay for these, it is an arrangement between you and the childcare provider.

Childcare providers cannot make you pay any fee as a condition of taking up a 2 year old 15 free/funded hour place. Providers can charge a refundable deposit. The deposit should be repaid to you within 7 days of your child taking up their place.