Pre-school early education

Funded early education for 3 and 4 year olds

All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to up to 15 hours per week of early education or childcare during term time. A comprehensive list of childcare providers can be found in the Family Information Service directory.

Children who attend a nursery where funded places are available will be eligible for a funded place from the term following their third birthday.

For more information see 15 hours free early learning for 2, 3 and 4 year olds.

Additional 15 hours funded childcare for 3 and 4 year olds (for eligible working families):

Working parents of 3 and 4 year olds may be entitled to an additional 15 hours of free childcare per week.

This funding will only be made available to families where both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family) and each parent earns, on average a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum wage (NMW) or national living wage (NLW), and less than £100,000 per year. Check you are eligible at Childcare Choices website.

Busy2s - free early education for 2 year olds

Busy2s offers up to 15 hours of free childcare for children aged 2 to 3 years to keep your little ones busy, so you can be busy too.

Some 2 year olds are also entitled to up to 15 hours per week of free early education or childcare. These places can be taken up at pre-schools, through childminders or at a selected number of nurseries and in some children's centres.

Find out more about Busy2s 

Applying

Applications for consideration for a place under the 2 year old offer will be available online. Please note that some of Westminster's childminders are also able to deliver the offer.

Apply online

Contact the Bi-Borough Childcare and Early Education Service helpline on 020 7641 7929 or email [email protected] for more information.

Starting school

The council has written a guide for parents with children starting primary and nursery schools in September 2020. To download a copy of the guide 'Your choice for primary education' brochure please visit the schools admissions page or contact the Schools Admissions team on 020 7745 6433.