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It is important that you apply for this funding via the correct route to ensure your application is dealt with as quickly as possible. By doing so this will mean that you meet the date parameters to start accessing the funding.
Following the Spring 2023 Budget announcement, the government are planning to expand the childcare offer for working parents who fulfil the 30 hours criteria Working parent entitlement - Parents as follows:
April 2024: Eligible two-year-olds will get 15 hours of free childcare per week (term following second birthday)
September 2024: Eligible children between nine months and two years will get 15 hours (term following nine month birthday)
September 2025: Eligible children between nine months and three years will get 30 hours (term following nine month birthday)
Parents of two year olds in receipt of qualifying benefits
Parents who are in receipt of one of the following:
Income Support
income based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Universal Credit - if you and your partner are on a low income from work (this usually means a combined income of less than £15,400 a year after tax)
support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
tax credit and have an annual household income of less than £16,190 (as assessed by HM Revenue and Customs)
Or if the 2 year old:
has a statutory statement of Special Educational Needs (SEN) or an Education, Health and Care plan. As statements and statutory plans are issued by Wiltshire council we are able to identify these children internally. Therefore parents are unable to self-refer for funding based on this criteria
has left local authority care through a Special Guardianship Order, adoption or a Residence Order
is currently a Looked After Child, for example in foster care
is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - please attach a copy of the DLA letter to your application
The following age parameters are used to decide when funding starts:
Age parameters used to decide when funding starts
When your child turns 2
When 2 year old funding commences
Recommended time to apply
On or before 31 March
From 1 April
From 1 January
On or before 31 August
From 1 September
From 1 April
On or before 31 December
From 1 January
From 1 September
These children will then move automatically on to three year old funding, which is available for a maximum of 15 hours a week.
We encourage all families who receive this funding to engage with their local children's centre.
For parents/carers applying under the economic criteria your details will be checked via the National Eligibility Checking System and if found eligible your application will be updated accordingly in your parent portal account and a unique reference number will be assigned. This then must be shown to your chosen early years provider.
Where a parent/carers details are 'Not found' by the National Eligibility Checking System, we will email asking you to provide documents to show that you have met the economic criteria, for example, Universal Credit take-home pay earnings reported by your employer, Tax credit TC602. Please check your junk/spam folder for an email from earlyyears@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window).
For parents/carers who are apply under the non-economic criteria: has left local authority care through a Special Guardianship Order, adoption or a Residence Order or currently looked after e.g. foster care or, Child with Special Educational Needs or Disability Living Allowance you must tick the appropriate box on the application form under section 3 (additional criteria).
Once the funding has been awarded it continues even if your circumstances change.
If you think your child is eligible for the two year old funding, please only apply via the Parent Portal if you meet the above criteria (in receipt of qualifying benefits and/or DLA, child looked after, adopted or in foster care). Go to our Apply or check the progress of your application (opens new window) which will take you through to our Parent Portal (if you have any difficulties using our Parent Portal, email earlyyears@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)).
We would advise that you don't opt to save login details as this can cause issues with logging back into the parent portal.
All early years settings and Children Centres can apply online for this funding on behalf of the parent. The parent will need to supply their National Insurance number for this to happen.
If your immigration status says you have 'No Recourse To Public Funds' (NRPF), you might still get free childcare for your 2 year old. If you wish to apply, please go to the 'apply and check progress of applications' section and then download and complete the application.
You must live in England and your household income must be no more than:
£26,500 for one child outside London
£30,600 with two or more children outside London
you cannot have more that £16,000 in savings or investments
From 1 September 2022, the Department for Education extended the eligibility criteria for the entitlement of 15 hours a week free early education for disadvantaged 2 year olds to families with No Recourse To Public Funds (NRPF):
those with a UK ancestry visa
those with temporary protection status under Section 12 of the Nationality and Borders Act
those with pre-settled status with no qualifying right to reside
For non-UK citizens applying under 'No Recourse To Public Funds' (NRPF), please download and complete the application form: Two Year Old Application - NRPF(PDF)[94KB](opens new window) Please submit copies of qualifying documents such as biometric residence permits, payslips etc along with your completed application form.
The funding pays for:
the funding will pay for childcare for up to 15 hours a week (38 weeks of the year term-time only)
it may also be possible to stretch the funded hours over 52 weeks of the year, if your chosen early years provider is open all year round. However, by stretching the entitlement over more weeks of the year, this means you will be accessing less than the 15 hours per week.
there is some flexibility with how the hours are used, but they can only be used for a maximum of 10 funded hours per day.
early years funding does not cover consumables or additional services such as nappies, snacks or extra curricular activities.
Those who can deliver early years entitlement funding:
all childcare is provided by registered professionals who are fully trained in looking after children and have been police checked
we fund all childcare providers who currently hold either a good or outstanding Ofsted grading
to find eligible childcare providers in your area, please use our online childcare directory (opens new window). (NB You will need to click 'Search', and then select '2 year old funded providers' under 'Childcare' from the filters on the page)
Working parents of two year olds
From April 2024, eligible working families in England with a two year old will be able to access up to 15 hours per week on a term time only basis or stretched over 52 weeks of the year if the chosen early years provider is open all year round. However, by stretching the entitlement over more weeks of the year, this means you will be accessing less than the 15 hours per week.
You, and any partner, must each expect 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 can't get 15 hours childcare if you, or your partner, each individually expect to earn £100,000 adjusted net income or more.
You must renew your eligibility code every 3 months otherwise you might lose your 15 hours funding.
The earliest you can apply for this funding is when your child is 1 year and 36 weeks for 15 hours funding. When using your code for the first time it must be a valid code and not in the grace period. Therefore, if you apply earlier than the recommended dates set out by the Department of Education, you may need to 'renew' the code ahead of the beginning of the term in which you wish to access the funding.
When to apply
Your child's birthday
When they can get their hours from
Recommended time to apply
1 September to 31 December
Term starting 1 January
15 October to 30 November
1 January to 31 March
Term starting 1 April
15 January to 28 February
1 April to 31 August
Term starting 1 September
15 June to 31 July
You can apply outside of these recommended dates but you might not receive your code in time. You must have a valid code by the end of the month before a new term starts.
