Eligibility
If you are on certain benefits, you may be able to get 15 hours free childcare for your two year old 38 weeks a year. It only takes a few minutes to apply online.
If your childcare provider has space, you may be able to stretch your hours over more weeks, e.g. 11 hours over 48 weeks. Talk to them about this.
If you are on any of these benefits, your child should be able to get a place:
- Income support
- Income based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Tax Credits and have an annual family income of under £16,190 before tax
- Universal Credit and have an annual family income of under £15,400 after tax
- Guaranteed element of State Pension
- Support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act - NASS support
- Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
2 year olds can also get free childcare if:
- they are looked after by a local council;
- they have a current education health and care plan;
- they get Disability Living Allowance; or
- they have left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or residence order.
You will need to provide evidence of all the above.
If you get Working Tax Credit you must tell the Tax Credit helpline as soon as you start getting the 15 hours free childcare as this may affect the amount that you get (you will always be better off by claiming the 15 hours free childcare). Phone them on 0345 300 3900 Monday - Friday 8am - 8pm or Saturday 8am - 4pm.
If you are a non UK citizen and cannot claim benefits you will be able to get free childcare for your 2 year old as long as your household income is no more than:
- £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
Families also cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments. Please email freechildcare@hackney.gov.uk for an application form and/or if you have any questions.
You can find detailed government guidance for the extension of 2 year-old free childcare eligibility to NRPF groups on the GOV.UK website.
How to apply
Follow these six steps:
1. Wait until your child is 2 years old
2. Read our guidance on how to apply
3. Apply online via the Hackney Parent Portal providing your name, your national insurance number, date of birth, email address and other information
4. If your application is successful you will get an email confirming your eligibility for 15 hours free childcare and education including the eligibility code
5. You will then need to find a childminder, playgroup or nursery place from our approved List of Two Year Old Childcare Providers. You may be able to get a place with a childminder, nursery, playgroup, children’s centre and even some school nurseries
6. Give the eligibility code and/or a copy of the confirmation email to your childcare provider so that they can claim the free entitlement funding for your child
If you have applied online and have a question, please phone 020 8820 7590 or email freechildcare@hackney.gov.uk with details of your name, child’s name and date of birth, ideally your reference number, and contact phone number.
When can my child start?
The earliest this place will start is January, April, or September after your child’s 2nd birthday.
- If your child was born between 1 January - 31 March funding will start in April, following your child’s second birthday
- If your child was born between 1 April - 31 August funding will start in September, following your child’s second birthday
- If your child was born between 1 September - 31 December funding will start in January, following your child’s second birthday
Please note: 15 hour sessions for 2 year olds may include lunches, snacks, trips or extra classes, for example yoga or music, all of which will be chargeable. You may also want your child to attend for additional hours which will also be chargeable at the providers’ normal hourly rate. These additional costs must be presented clearly to you and agreed prior to your child starting at the setting.
Benefits of childcare
Watch this video to hear how parents and carers feel that childcare has helped them and their child.
Early childhood education is an excellent way to shape a child's confidence and curiosity before attending school. It provides an opportunity to learn, play and make new friends.