Funded childcare for 2-year-olds

Find out what childcare funding is available for 2-year-olds and how it can be used

Eligibility for funded childcare

Working parents

Eligible working parents of 2-year-old children can access funded childcare the term after their child turns 2. 

This is part of the National Childcare Reforms Expansion roll out, which aims to provide more support for parents and carers across Essex.

To check your eligibility, visit the UK government’s dedicated childcare support page.

Families receiving benefits

Funded childcare for 2-year-olds is available to eligible parents or families who get any of these 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 benefit payments
  • child tax credits, and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
  • the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  • the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

Special circumstances

2-year-olds can also get funded childcare if they:

In addition to this criteria, we will also consider applications for children where the council has received a Section 23 notification from Health.

If you’re a non-EEA citizen who cannot claim benefits

Your 2-year-old may get funded childcare if you are getting support under the Immigration and Asylum Act and have:

  • 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’)
  • a UK ancestry visa
  • temporary protection status under Section 12 of the Nationality and Borders Act
  • pre-settled status with no qualifying right to reside

A 2-year-old you care for may also get funded childcare if your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, and you have any of the following:

  • support from your us because you have ‘a child in need’, for example they have a disability or a child protection plan
  • the right to live in the UK because you’re the main carer of a British citizen (known as a ‘Zambrano Carer’)

Your 2 year-old may get funded childcare if you have leave to remain with ‘no recourse to public funds’ on family or private life grounds. This is subject to the following maximum income thresholds:

  • £26,500 for families outside of London with one child
  • £34,500 for families within London with one child
  • £30,600 for families outside of London with two or more children
  • £38,600 for families within London with two or more children
  • A maximum capital threshold of £16,000 in all areas