Free childcare for two-year-olds

Two-year-olds with additional needs, or those from the most vulnerable and disadvantaged families, can get 15 hours free childcare per week.

Who qualifies for a free place?

Your two-year-old will get 15 hours free early education each week, for 38 weeks, if you receive:

• Income Support, income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment Support Allowance
• Universal Credit based on an annual combined income of £15,400, after tax
• tax credits with earnings of no more than £16,190 per year, before tax
• the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• support through Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
• Working Tax Credit four week-run on

A two-year-old may also qualify for a free place if he or she:

• gets a Disability Living Allowance
• is looked after by the local authority
• has left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order
• gets support from the Home Office under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
• has leave to remain in the UK with no recourse to public funds on family or private life grounds
• can live in the UK because their main carer is a British citizen or Zambrano Carer

The free funding is not intended to cover the cost of meals, nappies or additional activities, such as trips. Providers may charge a fee for these additions.

Free childcare for working parents of children aged 2 and under

From April 2024, free childcare is being expanded for working families of younger children so they can access 15 hours per week, increasing to 30 hours per week by September 2025.

Eligible working parents of three and four-year-olds already get 30 hours a week of free childcare. This expanded offer for younger children will be rolled out in stages as follows:

• From April 2024 - working parents of two-year olds can access 15 hours of free childcare.
• From September 2024 – working parents of children aged 9 to 23 months can access 15 hours of free childcare.
• From September 2025 – working parents of children aged nine months upwards can access 30 hours of free childcare per week, right up to their child starting school.

Depending on your provider, these hours can be used over 38 weeks during term time, or up to 52 weeks if you use fewer than your total hours per week.

The funding is not intended to cover the costs of meals, nappies or additional activities, such as trips. Providers may charge a fee for these additions.

Eligible working parents

You or your partner must work at least 16 hours per week and not earn more than £100,000 to be eligible for this expanded funding.

Free childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds

All 3 and 4-year-olds can get 15 hours free childcare per week, and up to 30 hours per week for eligible working families.

15 hours free childcare - universal funding

All 3 and 4-year-old children can get 15 hours of free childcare or early education a week, 38 weeks per year.  This can be administered over three terms or stretched out to suit your needs. This universal funding applies to all families, no matter how much you earn.

30 hours free childcare - extended funding

3 and 4 year-old children from working families can get an extra 15 hours a week of free childcare, so 30 hours in total. This can be administered over three terms or stretched out to suit your needs. You won't be eligible for this extended entitlement if you or your partner earn £100,000 or more. 

Tax-Free Childcare

You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year).

If you get Tax-Free Childcare, you’ll set up an online childcare account for your child. For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will pay in £2 to use to pay your provider.

You can get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as 15 or 30 hours free childcare if you’re eligible for both.

If you find that you are eligible for tax-free childcare, please the let the school office know as soon as possible.