About Early Learning for 2 year olds
Am I eligible?
You are eligible for Early Learning for 2 year olds if you currently receive either:
- Universal Credit and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax (not including benefit payments)
- Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Pension Credit (guaranteed element)
Or if your child:
- has an EHCP
- gets Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- is in care (being looked after by your local authority)
- has left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
Your benefits will not be affected if you take up Early Learning for 2 year olds.
If you’re not a UK citizen and cannot claim benefits
Depending on where you live, you may still be eligible if both:
- your household income after tax is below a certain level
- you have less than £16,000 in savings or investments.
See: GOV.UK: Early Learning for 2-Year-Olds.
If you’re working
If you are eligible for Early Learning for 2 year olds and you work, you may qualify for an extra 15 hours of free childcare. Find out more: GOV.UK: Free Childcare for Working Parents.
If you qualify for both schemes, you should apply for Early Learning for 2 year olds first.
Is it really free?
The childcare hours must be free. Your childcare provider might ask you to pay for optional extras like:
- food
- nappies and wipes
- activities or trips
These must be optional. If you do not want to pay for them, your provider should agree on an alternative with you. You can still get the free childcare if you do not pay for any optional extras.
What is an 'approved' provider?
The childcare must be from a registered provider, such as a registered nursery, playscheme or school. See: GOV.UK: What is approved childcare?
How do I choose a childcare provider?
Find childcare near you:
To help you decide, we've put together some questions you can ask:
I'm not sure - can I talk to someone?
Yes – our Family Information Service can give you help and advice about all types of childcare and how the Early Learning for 2 Year Olds scheme works.
Contact us:
- Email: Family Information Service
- Phone: 0345 60 80 192 (10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday)
When should I apply?
There are three funding start dates a year. It's never too soon to think about applying, so you don’t miss out on free hours.
| Child turns 9 months between | Your free hours start | Deadline to apply |
|---|---|---|
| 1 September - 31 December | 1 January | 31 December |
| 1 January - 31 March | 1 April | 31 March |
| 1 April - 31 August | 1 September | 31 August |
How do I apply?
Applications are managed by local councils, so if you live in East Sussex, you can apply online via our Early Years portal. You’ll need to set up an account if you haven’t already.
When you apply, we give you a code that you give to your childcare provider and we pay them, directly.
