Free early education and childcare

15 hours per week free childcare is available for 2 year olds who meet the below criteria. Eligibility is based on combined household circumstances.
Your 2 year old can get free childcare if you get 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
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
• 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 free childcare if they:
• are looked after by a local authority
• have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• get Disability Living Allowance 
• have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order

If you’re a non-UK citizen who cannot claim benefits, you may still get free childcare for your 2 year old if your household income is less than:

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

You must have no more than £16,000 in savings or investments.

Apply for free childcare for 2 year olds

You can apply by contacting an approved childcare provider in the borough which is registered to offer free places for 2 year olds.

They will ask you to provide proof of eligibility, for example a benefit award letter or they can request an eligibility check on your behalf. They will also let you know when the funding can start.

Find a free childcare provider

When will my child be eligible for the free entitlement?