Funded childcare for 2 year olds

A government-funded place for 2 year olds is available to families in England who are receiving some forms of support. Once eligibility is confirmed, it will remain until school age, even if your circumstances change.

The eligibility criteria can be found on the government website.

If parents are working and do not meet the above criteria, they may be eligible for the working entitlement for 2 year olds. You can find information in the working entitlement section.

Eligible 2 year old children will receive:

• 15 hours of free childcare or early education for 38 weeks
• a total of 570 hours per year, which you can use flexibly with one or more childcare providers

Some providers will allow you to 'stretch' the hours over 52 weeks by taking fewer hours per week.

Funded places can be accessed for:

• children born from 1 January to 31 March, who can join at the start of the term beginning on or following 1 April after their birthday
• children born from 1 April to 31 August, who can join from the term beginning on or following 1 September after their birthday
• children born from 1 September to 31 December, who can join at the start of the term beginning on or following 1 January after their birthday

Children can start a funded place from the first day of term until the headcount date:

• autumn census - first Thursday in October
• spring census - third Thursday in January
• summer census - third Thursday in May

If you have never accessed a funded place before and have missed the deadline above, speak to your childcare provider to see if they can arrange a late start.

If a child leaves a funded place before the headcount date or starts after it, the provider may charge the family for the agreed-upon funded hours.

Each application generates a code. You need to take the code to your childcare provider so that they can claim the funding.

If the application says it cannot confirm your eligibility, you should take evidence of your eligibility to your childcare provider, and they will let us know that you are eligible. An example of evidence could be a benefits letter or statement.

If you would like support with completing the application, you can ask your childcare provider to do it for you.

If you have any queries about accessing an early education place, email earlyeducation@birmingham.gov.uk

Apply

Check eligibility and apply for a 2 year place with a private nursery or childminder.

Check eligibility and apply for a 2 year place in a school nursery.

Provider eligibility checker

If you are a private nursery or childminder, check a child's eligibility.

If you are a school nursery, check a child's eligibility.

Download information for parents on funded early education.

Page last updated: 9 February 2024