Funded 2 year places - working parent entitlements
From April 2024, a new early education funded entitlement is available for working parents with a 2 year old.
You could be eligible for 15 hours of early education funding for your 2 year old. This can be taken as:
- 15 hours of early education for 38 weeks (up to 570 hours per year),
- The maximum 570 hours 'stretched' over more weeks but for fewer hours per week.
Speak to your childcare provider for details on how you can receive funded hours.
Eligibility
If you are a working parent (or lone parent) you could be eligible if:
- You have a child aged 2 years - children are eligible from the term after turning 2 years old
- Each parent expects to earn (on average) at least £167 per week (equal to 16 hours at the national minimum or living wage)
- If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible
You will not be eligible if:
- Either parent earns £100,000 a year
When your child could be eligible from
Children could be eligible from the term after turning 2 year olds and you have successfully applied and received a code, whichever is later. Funding can start:
- From 1 April - for applications made between 1 January - 31 March
- From 1 September - for applications made between 1 April - 31 August
- From 1 January - for applications made between 1 September - 31 December
How to apply
You can apply via the government's Childcare Choices website who will check and confirm eligibility.
If you are successful, you will receive a code from Childcare Choices which you must present to your childcare provider.
We urge you to apply the term before the child could be eligible.
Please note, you will need to reconfirm your eligibility with Childcare Choices every 3 months.
Fosters carers
An eligible child in foster care is entitled to the funding based on the following criteria:
- The local authority is satisfied that a foster parent engaging in paid work (other than fostering) is consistent with the child's care plan, placing the child at the centre of the process and decision making, and
- That in two foster parent families, both partners hold additional paid employment outside of their role as a foster carer
- A lone (foster) parent must have additional paid employment that is also outside their role as a foster carer
Foster carers will need to speak to the child's social worker before applying. To receive an application form please email eef@herefordshire.gov.uk Do not apply to Childcare Choices.
If you do not meet the income criteria or if you fall out of the above eligibility
Your 2 year old could still be eligible for 15 hours of funded childcare if your family receives additional government support. See if you could be eligible on our page for families receiving additional government support. This is known as Best Start.
Further information
Visit the Herefordshire Early Years Education and Childcare Directory to search for early education providers who offer funded places. Funding can be taken at:
- Childminders
- Day nurseries
- Preschools
- School based early years provision
- Independent (private) schools