15 hours a week of free childcare will be available to a 2-year-old child when their family receives certain benefits or the child has additional needs.
15 hours a week of free childcare will be available to a 2-year-old child in a household with no recourse to public funds when:
The child has additional needs
The family receives Home Office asylum support
Their family has no recourse to public funds and a low income
A 2-year-old child will be entitled to 15 hours free childcare when their parent is claiming one of the following benefits:
Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Universal Credit (the family's annual income after tax must not exceed £15,400)
Tax Credits (the family's annual income before tax must be under £16,190)
Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
Working Tax Credit four-week run on payment
A 2-year-old child will be entitled to 15 hours free childcare if they:
Have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan
Are receiving Disability Living Allowance
Are looked after by a local authority
Left local authority care as a result of an adoption order, a special guardianship order, or a child arrangements order
A 2-year-old child will qualify for 15 hours a week of free childcare on this basis regardless of their or their parent/guardian's immigration status.
A 2-year-old child will be entitled to 15 hours free childcare when the family are receiving Home Office asylum support provided under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. This includes section 95 and section 98 asylum support.
15 hours free childcare for a 2-year-old can be accessed by all families with no recourse to public funds, subject to meeting an income threshold when this applies.
Groups that have no recourse to public funds include families with:
Leave to remain that has a 'No Recourse to Public Funds' condition
No lawful status in the UK
Pre-settled status who are unable to meet benefit right to reside rules
Where the parent(s) are able to work, they must also meet an income threshold.
The family must have a household income of no more than:
£26,500 for families outside of London with 1 child
£30,600 for families outside of London with 2 or more children
£34,500 for families within London with 1 child
£38,600 for families within London with 2 or more children
Families cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.
For more details, families can refer to the government information about free early education and childcare for 2-year-olds and information about how to apply for childcare.
Councils will need to refer to the Department for Education Early education and childcare statutory guidance.
For families with no recourse to public funds, councils will need to refer to the government guidance on free early education for 2-year-olds from families with no recourse to public funds and application form, which can be used or adapted by the council for families to complete in order to confirm their eligibility.
