Maximum 15 hours per week - 38 weeks of the year
The criteria for 2 year old funding for a maximum of 15 hours per week, 38 weeks of the year is if a parent is in receipt of one of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit (with an annual net income of no more than £15,400 if your child was born on or after 1 January 2016)
- Tax credits, and you have an annual income of under £16,190 before tax
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
- The Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit).
Funded early education and childcare
2 year old children can also get funded early education and childcare if any of the following apply:
A. The child is looked after by the local authority, or are in care
B. The child has a current education, health and care plan (EHCP) as a result of special educational needs or disability (SEND)
C. The child has left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order
D. The child is in receipt of a Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
E. If the parent is a non-EEA citizen who cannot claim benefits, their 2 year old may be able to receive funded childcare if support is received under the Immigration and Asylum Act and they have either:
- claimed asylum in the UK and are waiting for a decision (known as ‘part 6’)
- been refused asylum in the UK (known as ‘section 4’)
F. If the household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, and they have either:
- leave to remain with ‘no recourse to public funds’ on family or private life grounds or
- the right to live in the UK because the parent is the main carer of a British citizen (known as a ‘Zambrano Carer’)
Further information
Eligible 2 year olds can start their funded place in the term following their second birthday.
Approved providers of funding for 2 year olds must maintain an Ofsted inspection outcome which is good or outstanding.
As a childminder, you must fulfil the local authority conditions in order to offer funded 2 year old places and receive funding.
The current hourly rate paid to you for a 2 year funded child is £6.66.
Local Authority OTHER process
If the child falls under eligibility criteria A-F, the supporting documents must be sent to the local authority for verification: