Early education and childcare

15 hours/week for disadvantaged 2 year olds

Some 2 year olds from families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) are entitled to 15 hours a week of free childcare

A 2 year old may be entitled to 15 hours a week of free childcare if:

• their family receives certain benefits
• they have additional needs
• their family receives Home Office asylum support
• their family has NRPF and meets the low-income requirements 

Families in receipt of benefits

A 2 year old is entitled to 15 hours of free childcare if their parent receives one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit (if the family’s annual income after tax is £15,400 or less)
• Tax Credits (if the family’s annual income before tax is under £16,190)
• the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit

Children with additional needs

A 2 year old is entitled to 15 hours of free childcare if they:

• have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan
• receive Disability Living Allowance
• are looked after by a local authority
• have left local authority care through an adoption order, special guardianship order, or a child arrangements order

A child qualifies on this basis regardless of their or their parent or guardian’s immigration status.

Families receiving Home Office support

A 2 year old is entitled to 15 hours of free childcare if their family receives:

• section 95 asylum support
• section 98 asylum support
• section 4 asylum support
• Schedule 10 immigration bail support

Families receiving Home Office support do not need to satisfy any income or savings requirements as they have already been assessed by the Home Office as destitute.

Families with no recourse to public funds

2 year old may be entitled to 15 hours of free childcare if their family has no recourse to public funds and meets the low-income requirements. This includes families where the parent or parents have:

• leave to remain with a no recourse to public funds condition  
• pre-settled status but do not meet the benefit right to reside rules 
• no lawful immigration status 

Where a parent has permission to work, they must also meet an income threshold. The household income must be no more than:

• £26,500 (outside London, 1 child)
• £30,600 (outside London, 2 or more children)
• £34,500 (London, 1 child)
• £38,600 (London, 2 or more children)

Families must not have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.

More information and how to apply

Families can find more information in the government's guidance on free childcare, including how to apply.

Local authorities should refer to the Department for Education statutory guidance on early education and childcare.

For families with no recourse to public funds, local authorities should also refer to the Department for Education guidance Early learning for 2 year olds for families with no recourse to public funds: assessing eligibility, including the application form template that can be used or adapted. 

Page updated: 12 August 2026