Eligibility
Free early education will be given in the following circumstances.
Family circumstances
If your 2 year old is from a family receiving:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit - if you and your partner have a combined income from work of less than £15,400 a year after tax
- tax credits and you have an annual income of under £16,190 before tax
- the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
- the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
General circumstances
If your 2 year old child falls into one of the following criteria, they will also be eligible for free early education:
- your child has a current statement of SEN or an Education, Health and Care Plan
- your child attracts Disability Living Allowance
- your child is looked after by the Local Authority
- your child has left care through special guardianship, an adoption or residence order
Find out more
This entitlement is available in the term after an eligible child’s second birthday.
You should be able to keep your child at your preferred provider until they can access a school place, normally in the September after their third birthday.
Your entitlement will continue to be free regardless of whether your family’s financial circumstances change.