Funded childcare for 2 year olds

Funding is available from the term after your child turns 2 years old. You can find more information on the Childcare Choices website.

Childcare providers

Providers must be Ofsted registered and included on the local authority list. They include:

• day nurseries
• pre schools
• nursery schools
• nursery classes
• independent schools
• childminders

We cannot fund any other types of care, including family arrangements.

You can find a list of approved childcare providers in our Family Information Directory.

Using your 15 hours funded childcare

You can use your funded 15 hours:

• over a minimum of 2 days or a maximum of 5 days a week
• for a minimum of 2.5 hours a day and a maximum of 10 hours a day
• over 38 weeks
• pro-rota over a maximum of 52 weeks per year
• anytime between 6am to 8pm, depending on the sessions offered by your chosen provider
• flexibly with one or more childcare providers
• without paying for additional services

If you meet the criteria for 'Families receiving government support', you can use your funded hours with one childcare provider only.

Who can apply for funded childcare

There are 2 different schemes when applying for funded childcare:

• working parents
• families receiving government support

If you meet the criteria for both, you will need to apply for the funding for families receiving government support.

Working parents

You can access the funded childcare the term after your child turns 2 years old.

This is part of the National Childcare Reforms Expansion roll out, which aims to provide more support for parents and carers across Cumberland.

Check you're eligible for free childcare if you're working on GOV.UK

Families receiving government support

Funded childcare for 2 year olds is available, if you get any of these benefits:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Universal Credit and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax (not including benefit payments)
• Child Tax Credit and/or Working Tax Credit and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
• Guaranteed element of Pension Credit

Special circumstances

2 year olds can also get funded childcare if they:

• are looked after by the council
• have a statement of special educational needs (SEN) or an education, health and care plan (EHCP)
• get Disability Allowance
• have left care under a special guardianship, residence or adoption order

If you're a non-EEA citizen who cannot claim benefits

Your 2 year old may get funded childcare if you are getting support under the Immigration and Asylum Act and have:

• claimed asylum in the UK and are waiting for a decision (known as 'part 6')
• been refused asylum in the UK (known as 'section 4')
• a UK ancestry visa
• temporary protection status under Section 12 of the Nationality and Borders Act
• pre-settled status with no qualifying right to reside

A 2 year old you care for may also get funded childcare if your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, and you have any of the following:

• support from us because you have 'a child in need'. For example they have a disability or a child protection plan
• the right to live in the UK because you're the main carer of a British citizen (known as a Zambrano Carer)

Your 2 year old may get funded childcare if you have leave to remain with 'no recourse to public funds' on family or private life grounds. Your household income must be no more than:

• £26,500 for families outside of London with one child
• £30,600 for families outside of London with 2 or more children
• £16,000 in savings or investments

Apply for funding

Apply for funding as a working parent on GOV.UK

If you get government support, you will need to register on our Citizen Portal. Once registered, you will have an option to choose to apply for a funded early education place for your 2 year old.