15 hours for 2-year-olds receiving support
The government funds up to 570 hours of free childcare per year for eligible 2-year-olds.
This works out as 15 hours a week if your child takes up the childcare during term time (38 weeks), or you could take fewer hours over more weeks in the year if your childcare provider offers this option.
Eligibility
Your 2-year-old can get funded early learning if you get any of the following extra support:
- 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
- the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
You can also get funded if your child:
- is looked after by a Local Authority
- has an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- gets Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- has left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
Non – UK citizens
You may still get free childcare for your 2-year-old if you're:
- a non-UK citizen who cannot claim benefits
- immigration status says you have 'no recourse to public funds'
Your household income must be no more than:
- £26,500 for families with one child
- £30,600 for families with two or more children
You cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.
For an application form, please email fis@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
When your child is eligible
| If your child’s second birthday falls between: | Your child will become eligible from: |
|---|---|
| 1 January and 31 March | The start of the summer term (April) |
| 1 April and 31 August | The start of the autumn term (September) |
| 1 September and 31 December | The start of the Spring Term (January) |
If you’re working
If you get extra support and you work, you may qualify for an additional 15 hours of free childcare.
Find out more about 30 hours free childcare if you’re working
If you qualify for both schemes, you should apply for the ‘15 hours extra support‘ funding first to ensure the continuity of the place.
How to apply
You will be asked to register on Westmorland and Furness Council's Citizen Portal.
Once registered you will have an option to choose to apply for a funded early education place for your 2-year-old.
Apply online at the Citizen Portal
Further information
If you need further information or support, please contact:
Family Information Service
Email: fis@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Telephone: 07785 456 983
Additional funding for your early years provider
Funding may be available to support individual children and raise the quality of childcare that a childcare provider can offer: