Early Years & Childcare

Your two year old could get up to 570 hours a year of childcare, which can be taken as 15 hours each week for 38 weeks of the year (although some providers may offer different attendance patterns), if you receive one 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 any benefit payments) • The guaranteed element of Pension Credit     

Two year olds can also get funded 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     

Government funding is intended to pay for 15 or 30 hours a week of high quality, flexible childcare. The 15 or 30 hours must be able to be accessed free of charge to parents. Government funding does not cover: • meals • nappies • additional hours • additional activities such as trips

Families might be asked to pay for these things. However, these charges must not be mandatory, or a condition of accessing a funded place and you should speak to your provider about what alternative options they may have.