What is 2 year old funding and what does it mean for my child?

Please note 

Your 2-year-old can get free childcare if you live in England and 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

You may have to pay for extra costs like meals, nappies or trips.

Contact your childcare provider or local council to find out more.

From April 2024, working parents can also apply for 2 year funding. Please log on to Childcare Choices to see more information and to make an application.

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.

Contact your childcare provider or check with your local council if you’re unsure if you can get free childcare.

How do I check if I am eligible for 2 year old funding?

1. This online checker will take you through a series of questions to find out if you are entitled to 2 year old funding. Please see the useful document to the top left of this page which is a guide on how to make your application.
2. Once you have identified if you are eligible for 2 year old funding and have been given a reference number/code, you can return to this page to find childcare if you wish.
3.  To check if you are eligible for 2 year old funding please Click here. 

I am eligible for 2 year old funding, what now?

1. Only Ofsted registered Good or Outstanding Childminders, Day Nurseries and Pre-schools can offer 2 year old funding
2. Please, click here to find childcare near you
3. Once you have chosen, please call the setting to make an appointment  to visit, it is a good idea to look at more than one.
4. Please take all relevant documentation with you: your child's birth certificate, proof of address and the reference number or code given to you by the checking system. There should be no deposit charged on a 2 year old place.  Funding will start from the beginning of the term following your child's 2nd birthday, so for children becoming 2 between 1 January and 31 March funding will start from the term on or after 1 April, children becoming 2 between 1 April and 31 August are eligible from the start of term on or after 1 September and finally children becoming 2 between 1 September and 31 December are eligible from the start of term on or after 1 January.