FUNDING

Supporting parents back into work with Government funding

2 YEAR FUNDING

DISADVANTAGED 2 YEAR FUNDING

Free childcare for eligible 2 year old provides up to 15 hours per week during term time or as a stretched offer for 12 hours per week over 48 weeks per yea

Families will qualify for free childcare for their 2 year old if they meet any of the below criteria:

Income Support
Income-based Job Seekers’ Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit and have an annual income not exceeding £16,190
Child is looked after by the local authority
Child has a statement of special educational needs/ an education, health and care plan or who attract Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Child left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangement order or adoption order

An application form must be completed and submitted to the Early Years Entitlement team by a parent directly or by a professional working with the family (e.g. Health Visitor, Nursery Manager, Family Support Worker, Social Worker). Complete an Early Years Entitlement for 2 Year Olds – Application Form or call for a paper form 0800 195 1635.

Funded places are confirmed on an individual basis directly with the parent/carer detailed on the application. Children become eligible for the 2 Year Old entitlement from the term after their second birthday. Eligibility continues until the end of the school term in which the child turns 3 years, this ensures a seamless transition to the free Early Years Entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds.

3&4 YEAR FUNDING

3 and 4 year old children are entitled to early education from the term following their 3rd birthday until they reach compulsory school age (the beginning of the term following their 5th birthday).

Children are entitled to access school reception class from September following their 4th birthday. Where parents choose to defer entry, and keep their child in a Private, Voluntary or Independent provision they may still access the 15 hour entitlement until their child reaches compulsory school age, the term after their 5th birthday.

Places must be offered flexibly to meet the needs of parents and providers will deliver their own model of flexibility within the parameters set out in the EYE Guidance. Parents must liaise with the provider of choice to decide which model suits their needs.

There is no requirement for all early education places to be delivered only over 38 weeks of the year or in line with maintained school term dates. Where a child is attending school reception class in a state school (full or part time), Early Years Entitlement hours cannot be claimed by an early years provider.

A child born on or between Will become eligible for a free place from;

1st April to 31st August September following their 3rd birthday (start of Autumn term) 1st September to 31st December January following their 3rd Birthday

(Start of Spring school term)

1st January to 31st March April following their 3rd Birthday

(start of Summer school term)

30 hour funding

For working families in England
With 3 and 4-year-old children
30 hours of free childcare or early education for 38 weeks
A total of 1,140 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more
childcare provider
Some providers will allow you to ‘stretch’ the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week

Tax Free Childcare

For working families, including the self-employed, in the UK
Earning under £100k and at least £167 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage) each
Who aren't receiving Tax Credits, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers
With children aged 0-11 (or 0-16 if disabled)
For every £8 you pay into an online account, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child per year

Funding: Programs