Free Childcare for 2 Year Olds

Some 2-year-olds in England can get free early education and childcare.

You must be getting one of the following:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• The Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit or both and have a gross household income of £16,190 a year or less

Children are also entitled to a place if:

• they're looked after by a local council
• they have a current statement of special education needs (SEN) or an education health and care plan
• they get Disability Living Allowance
• they've left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order
• If your child is eligible, you can start claiming after they turn 2. The date you can claim will depend on when their birthday is.

Child's birthday - When you can claim

• 1 January to 31 March - the beginning of term on or after 1 April
• 1 April to 31 August - the beginning of term on or after 1 September
• 1 September to 31 December the beginning of term on or after 1 January