Free Childcare

I am able to offer up to 15 hours childcare per week funded through the Government Early Years Entitlement Funding. If your child is eligible for this funding entitlement, you could receive up to 15 hours per week of childcare in my setting paid for by this early years funding.

I am able to claim this funding from Essex County Council. The funding is paid directly to me to pay for your child’s hours here on a termly basis.

Each term I will ask you to sign a parent/carer agreement form. The form is your commitment to me for your child’s place for that term. I will then submit the form to Essex County Council to claim the Free Early Education Entitlement for the next term.

Free childcare and education for 2 to 4-year-olds

All 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 hours of free early education or childcare per year. This is usually taken as 15 hours each week for 38 weeks of the year. Some 2-year-olds are also eligible.

3 to 4-year-olds

You can start claiming free childcare after your child turns 3. The date you can claim will depend on when their birthday is.

Child’s birthday	When you can claim
1 January to 31 March	the beginning of term on or after 1 April
1 April to 31 August	the beginning of term on or after 1 September
1 September to 31 December	the beginning of term on or after 1 January

Example: Your child was born on 15 February 2012. They can get free early education and childcare from the start of term following 1 April 2015.

2-year-olds

Some 2-year-olds in England can get free early education and childcare.

You must be getting one of the following:

Income Support
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
Child Tax Credit and/or Working Tax Credit and have an annual income under £16,190
the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
Universal Credit

Children are also entitled to a place if:

they’re looked after by a local council
they have a current statement of special education needs (SEN) or an education health and care plan
they get Disability Living Allowance
they’ve left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order

If your child is eligible, you can start claiming after they turn 2. The date you can claim will depend on when their birthday is.

Child’s birthday	When you can claim
1 January to 31 March	the beginning of term on or after 1 April
1 April to 31 August	the beginning of term on or after 1 September
1 September to 31 December	the beginning of term on or after 1 January