Free or Funded Childcare for 2 year olds

Your 2-year-old could get up to 15 hours free childcare if you get any of the following: 

• Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• 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: 

• If your immigration status says you have ‘no recourse to public funds’, you may still get free childcare for your 2-year-old.

You must live in England and your household income must be no more than: 

• £26,500 for families outside of London with one child
• £34,500 for families within London with one child
• £30,600 for families outside of London with two or more children
• £38,600 for families within London with two or more children

You cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments

Find out if you're eligible

Funding for childcare for your child starts the term after their birthday

These are the general term dates of when your child will be eligible for their 2 or 3 / 4 year funding.

Some providers will allow you to ‘stretch’ your funding over the whole year by reducing your weekly hours. You can use this funding with one or more registered settings.

Apply for funding